Beijing: China's ruling Communist Party has appointed a top economist to head its anti-corruption drive, stepping up efforts to tackle the menace in the wake of outgoing President Hu Jintao's warning that the country could collapse if graft is not curtailed.
The just concluded 18th Communist Party Congress which was convened to select the new leadership of the Party has appointed Wang Qishan, country's top negotiator with the US on a host of economic and trade issues, to head the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
He is one of the top leaders who were elected to the 371-member Central Committee.
He was expected to be included in the Politburo as well as in the Standing Committee of seven or five leaders to be unveiled tomorrow.
A series of high-profile corruption scandals in the country have been brought to light in recent years, including the downfall of disgraced leader Bo Xilai, who faces trial on charges of corruption and abuse of power.
President Hu Jintao said in a keynote address to the Congress last week that a failure to tackle corruption by party officials could cause "the collapse of the party and the fall of the state".
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 20:13