A former vice-governor of east China's Jiangxi Province, Hu Changqing, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for corruption and violation of Party discipline and laws, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced Wednesday.

Hu was also stripped of his post in the provincial government and has been arrested, according to the commission.

Investigators found that from 1997 to July 1999, Hu took bribes in the amounts of 1.53 million yuan, 750,000 Hong Kong dollars, and US$35,000 dollars, along with other valuables worth about 1.4 million yuan, according to the commission.

The commission said that Hu's expulsion shows the Party's resolve to assure clean government and punish those members who have been corrupted.

The commission called on other Party officials to draw lessons from Hu's case, be honest in performing their duties, and serve the people wholeheartedly.