A former vice-governor of Gansu province, Yang Zixing, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China, China's top anti-corruption watchdog said on Thursday.

Yang, 64, is accused of exploiting his position to benefit others in project contracting, enterprise management, and job promotions while illegally accepting large sums of money, according to a statement from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision.

The watchdog said Yang disregarded public interests, interfered with market economic activities, and engaged in corrupt practices. He allegedly violated regulations by accepting banquets and travel arrangements and using public funds for personal expenses.

The statement also accused Yang of indulging in political opportunism and abandoning his ideals and beliefs.

Yang, a native of Gansu, began his career in 1976 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1984. Over three decades, he held multiple roles in the province, including mayor of Dingxi city and deputy head of the provincial poverty relief department. He served as vice-governor of Gansu from 2015 to 2018.

In 2017, Yang received a serious disciplinary warning for improperly revising a local regulation involving the Qilian Mountains National Nature Reserve. The changes contradicted national laws and sparked criticism for failing to protect the environment, Chinese media reported.