Xu Guang
徐光
Vice-Governor of Henan
In office
January 2017 – September 2019
GovernorChen Run'er
Communist Party Secretary of Zhoukou
In office
November 2011 – February 2017
Preceded byMao Chaofeng
Succeeded byLiu Jibiao
Mayor of Zhoukou
In office
December 2006 – November 2011
Preceded byGao Deling
Succeeded byYue Wenhai
Personal details
BornJune 1960 (age 63)
Dangyang, Hubei, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party (expelled; 1984-2020)
Alma materHebi Normal School
Tianjin University
Henan Radio and Television University

Xu Guang (Chinese: 徐光; pinyin: Xú Guāng; born June 1960) is a former Chinese politician who spent his whole career in north China's Henan province. He was investigated by China's top anti-graft body, the Chinese Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, in August 2019. He was then sentenced to 11 years in jail on January 11, 2021.[1] Previously he served as vice-governor of Henan.[2][3]

He was a delegate to the 11th National People's Congress and a delegate to the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.[3]

Early life and education

Xu was born in Dangyang, Hubei, in June 1960. He entered the workforce in August 1977 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in June 1984. After the Cultural Revolution in September 1979, he entered Hebi Normal School, where he majored in Chinese language and literature. He also studied at Henan Radio and Television University and Tianjin University as a part-time student.

Career

After university in July 1981, he was assigned to the Hebi Municipal Education Bureau. In May 1988 he became Deputy Communist Party Secretary, rising to Communist Party Secretary four months later. In November 1992, he was named acting county magistrate of Qi County, he became Communist Party Secretary in April 1994. He was vice-mayor of Hebi from January 2000 to March 2001 and vice-mayor of Anyang from March 2001 to November 2003. He became Deputy Communist Party Secretary of Zhoukou in November 2003, and then Communist Party Secretary, the top political position in the city, beginning in December 2011. During his time as Communist Party Secretary of Zhoukou, he led the Henan Grave Removal Project, which led to great controversy and fierce opposition from the local people.[4][5]

Downfall

He was elevated to vice-governor of Henan in January 2017, a position he held until August 2019, when he was placed under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China.[6][7] As Governor, he focused on natural resources, housing, urban and rural construction, transportation and key projects.[4] On February 21, 2020, he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and dismissed from public office.[8] On September 8, he stood trial at the Intermediate People's Court of Qingdao.[9] He was charged of taking advantage of his various positions between 2004 and 2018 in Henan to seek benefits for relevant organizations and individuals in project contracting, business operations and job promotions.[9] In return, he received money and gifts worth 12.65 million yuan (about 1.85 million U.S. dollars).[9]

On January 11, 2021, he was sentenced to 11 years by the Qingdao Intermediate people's Court for consorting with some private enterprise owners and using his power and influence to seek benefits for them, and trading power for money.[1][10] The court also confiscated one million yuan of his personal assets and ordered him to hand in money gained from bribes.[1][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Xinhua (11 January 2021). "Former vice governor of Henan jailed for 11 years". china.org.cn. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Vice Henan provincial governor under investigation". chinadaily. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b 河南省副省长徐光接受调查. sina (in Chinese). 2019-08-25.
  4. ^ a b 河南省副省长徐光被查 曾力推周口“平坟”引关注. sina (in Chinese). 2019-08-24.
  5. ^ Zhong Yuhao (2019-08-24). 河南副省长徐光任上被查，曾长期在周口市任职. thepaper.cn (in Chinese).
  6. ^ "Xu Guang, Vice Governor of Henan Province, was inspected to govern Zhoukou for 11 years and pushed for flat grave and reclaimed farming". jqknews. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  7. ^ 河南省政府党组成员、副省长徐光接受中央纪委国家监委纪律审查和监察调查. ccdi.gov.cn (in Chinese). 2019-08-24.
  8. ^ "Former vice governor in central China expelled from CPC, office". xinhuanet.com. 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Former vice governor of China's Henan pleads guilty to graft". Xinhuanet.com. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b 有期徒刑11年！河南省人民政府原副省长徐光受贿案一审宣判. 163.com. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
Government offices Preceded byGao Deling (高德领) Mayor of Zhoukou 2006–2011 Succeeded byYue Wenhai Party political offices Preceded byMao Chaofeng Communist Party Secretary of Zhoukou 2011–2017 Succeeded byLiu Jibiao (刘继标)
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