Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress Vice Chairman Gao Xingfu Falls from Power; Former Subordinate Turned Himself In Two Months Ago

The headquarters of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. (Reuters Images)

[People News] On August 18, the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission announced that Gao Xingfu, Deputy Party Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress, is under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law.” He is currently undergoing disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Gao becomes the second high-ranking official in Zhejiang to fall since the 20th CCP National Congress. Reports reveal that one of his former subordinates voluntarily surrendered two months earlier.

Gao Xingfu’s most recent public appearance was on the afternoon of July 24, when he attended a provincial-level departmental symposium organized by the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress Finance and Economics (Budget) Committee on drafting the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Gao, 62, is a native of Hangzhou. He worked in Zhejiang’s state-owned enterprises for many years, serving as Deputy General Manager of Zhejiang Construction Engineering Group, Deputy General Manager, General Manager, and Vice Chairman of Zhejiang Construction Investment Group. In 2013, he was promoted to Chairman and Party Secretary of the company, and in 2015, he became Chairman and Party Secretary of Zhejiang Transportation Investment Group.

In August 2016, Gao was elevated to Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province. His direct promotion from enterprise head to provincial vice governor in one step was rare, and was described as the first such case in Zhejiang in 21 years.

In January 2023, Gao transferred to the position of Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee, where he served until his recent investigation.

Not long ago, one of Gao’s former subordinates voluntarily surrendered. According to CCTV, on June 20 this year, Guan Manyu, former Party Committee member and Deputy General Manager of Zhejiang Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd., turned himself in for serious violations of discipline and law.

Reports state that Guan had worked at the company for many years, serving successively as Deputy General Manager of its Overseas Department, Chairman of China Zhejiang Construction Group (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Huaying Construction Co., Ltd. In 2023, he became Deputy General Manager of the company.

Even earlier, in November 2023, Shen Defa, former Party Secretary and Chairman of Zhejiang Construction Investment Group, also turned himself in. Shen, too, had worked in the company for many years, and had once served alongside Gao in the same leadership team. While Gao was General Manager and Chairman, Shen served as Party Committee Member and Deputy General Manager. Later, Shen became General Manager and then Chairman of the company.

From the tone of official CCP reports, it seems to suggest that Gao Xingfu’s downfall is related to his tenure at Zhejiang Construction Investment Group, and that his former subordinates, Guan Manyu and Shen Defa, may have provided evidence of Gao’s violations of discipline and law.