(XINHUA)

Liu Zhijun, China's former railway minister, was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for serious violation of Party discipline in late May, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC, the party's disciplinary watchdog.

Liu had been under investigation since February 2011, when he was removed from his position. An investigation by the CCDI found Liu used his position to seek substantial illegal interests for Ding Yuxin, Chairman of Beijing Boyou Investment Management Corp., a move which caused great economic losses of the country and negative social influence. The CCDI also discovered Liu had taken a huge amount of bribes and bore major responsibility for severe corruption in the railway system. His illegal gains were confiscated.

It is suspected that some of Liu's disciplinary violations may have included criminal acts, so his case will also be turned over to judicial system.

After assuming the post of railway minister in 2003, Liu was responsible for the multibillion-dollar investment in China's railway network and construction of high-speed lines.