An online poll launched in the run-up to the NPC and CPPCC National Committee sessions shows that anti-graft is still one of the most concerned issues among Chinese People.

Pointing out that the country's anti-graft task remains "arduous", Chinese President Hu Jintao said at a discipline inspection meeting early this year that the Party and government should step up efforts to improve the anti-corruption system and incorporate the work of fighting corruption into economic, political, cultural and social constructions.

Statistics show that from 2003 to Oct. 2006, China's prosecuting organs at all levels tackled 67,505 graft-related criminal suspects.

In addition to Qiu Xiaohua and Zheng Xiaoyu, Li Pinsan, former chairman of the Industry and Commerce Federation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, was also expelled from the CPPCC National Committee on Wednesday for alleged illegal fund-raising.

The Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee also accepted the resignation of He Linxiang, former head of the Agricultural Development Bank of China who had received punishment because of discipline violations.

The three NPC deputies ousted on Wednesday were Liu Weiming, 68,former vice chairman of the CPPCC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Deng Zhonghua, former president of Hunan Chendian International Development Co., Ltd, and Li Yichao, former board chairman of Luoyang Zhongtai Group in central Henan Province.

They were expelled for alleged tax evasion or involvement in corruption.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)