Deputy Mayor of Kunming Xie Xinsong investigated for violation of laws

World Today

Qiu He, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee was placed under investigation on Sunday for alleged serious violation of party discipline. Three days later, Xie Xinsong, the deputy mayor of Kunming, the capital Yunnan province was placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Photo from GoKunming.

KUNMING — Xie Xinsong, the deputy mayor of Kunming, the capital city of southwest China’s Yunnan province, is under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, the local disciplinary watchdog announced on Wednesday.

He is the second senior official in the province to come under investigation within a week.

Qiu He, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee was placed under investigation on Sunday by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. He is being investigated for alleged serious violation of party discipline and breaking the law.

Qiu has been a very well-known figure, an official with a history of controversial remarks since he first emerged in east China’s Jiangsu Province during the 1990s. Regarded as something of a political star, his indifference to the opinions of others ensured his decisions often made news. According to a Xinhua News article, until now the words most frequently associated with Qiu have been “steadfast”, “practical” and “effective”.

Qiu reportedly once issued local officials in various fields with a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum requiring them to meet a minimum quota in attracting investment.

When acting as the Party chief of Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, in an attempt to improve governance, Qiu published all senior officials’ phone numbers, which led to some complaints from officials bombarded by citizens’ complaints. At the time, the Chinese media declared that “Public phone lists signal a new era in China’s local governance”.

In 2008, Qiu He was awarded the title of Outstanding Contributors to China’s Reform.

Story by Xinhua News.