The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Ministry of Supervision announced the moves in a statement after a joint investigation on Chen, who was also the Sinopec Party chief, which began in June last year.

Chen had been accused of taking bribes to help others, including his mistress, make unlawful profits, and he also led a "corrupt life", according to the authorities.

Born in 1948, Chen worked as mayor of Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, and deputy commissioner of the State Planning Commission until 1998, when he became a deputy general manager of the Sinopec. In 2003, he took over as general manager.

All the charges against him dated from his arrival at Sinopec, one of the largest state companies in China, according to the statement.