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China investigates top lawmaker for corruption

BEIJING: China said on Saturday it was investigating a senior lawmaker for accepting bribes, highlighting the nation's crackdown on corruption ahead of its annual legislative session.

The National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, begins an 11-day session on Sunday.

"Vice chairman of the NPC standing committee Cheng Kejie is now under investigation for taking bribes," said Zeng Jianhui, a spokesman for the congress.

"The NPC has decided he will not participate in this meeting," he told a media briefing.

Zeng gave no further details of Cheng's alleged crimes, but said the official had taken leave for a "self investigation".

Cheng took up his post with the congress in March 1998 after earlier serving as chairman of the government of the southern region of Guangxi.

Hong Kong newspapers have reported that Cheng was under investigation for taking bribes in return for awarding contracts and for the protection of smuggling in the region.

Zeng said the congress has sought to make a contribution to China's war against corruption.

"The NPC has attached great importance to anti-corruption work and has worked very hard to give this battle legal backing," he said.

China's top graftbuster has warned the country faced a "life or death political struggle" against corruption, state media have said.

"The fight against corruption is a life or death political struggle for the party and the nation, entangled in a complex international and domestic environment," said Wei Jianxing, head of the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

CHINA'S PREMIER TO SPEAK

China's premier Zhu Rongji will deliver a work report at Sunday's opening session of the congress, outlining economic and policy goals for this year.

He will set a target for gross domestic product (GDP) growth of around seven percent in 2000, Hong Kong newspapers said.

China's GDP grew by 7.1 percent in 1999, underpinned by massive state investment in infrastructure.

Zhu will also call for a "no-holds-barred war on corruption" and warn that China will not "sit idle" if Taiwan keeps dragging its feet on reunification, the South China Morning Post reported on Saturday.

China considers Taiwan to be a renegade province.

Another item high on the legislative agenda this year is China's entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Zeng said.

China hopes to join the world trade body this year but must still reach agreement with the European Union and other member countries following a deal with the United States last November.

Minister of the State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan and Minister of Finance Xiang Huaicheng will also deliver reports on planned tasks for this year during the session, Zeng said. -Reuters