BEIJING -- Qi Tongsheng, a former senior political adviser from Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) due to serious violations of Party discipline and laws, an official statement said on Friday.

The decision was made following an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Qi was a former secretary of the leading Party members group of the Ningxia regional committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairperson of the committee.

The investigation found that Qi had lost his ideals and convictions, engaged in superstitious activities, attended banquets prohibited by the Party's frugality rules, and traded power for money, the statement read.

Qi was also found to have sought benefits for others in mineral exploitation projects and project contracting, while accepting large sums of money and valuables in return, the statement added.

A decision has been made to confiscate his illegal gains, and the case will be transferred to procuratorial authorities for review and prosecution, the statement said.