(CFP)

Li Yuan, former Vice Minister of Land and Resources of China, was expelled from the Communist Party of China and public employment.

It's widely reported by the media Li may be involved in a corruption case and may have violated Party discipline. An investigation into Li's case has been going on for more than six months.

Li, 64, became vice minister of land and resources of China in April 1998 and deputy Party secretary of the ministry in October 2004. He retired from those posts in 2008. After retirement, he became deputy director of the Committee of Population, Resources and Environment of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He has been an independent supervisor of PetroChina Co. Ltd. since May 2008.