Former Party chief and deputy general manager of China Mobile Zhang Chunjiang has been removed from his official post and expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for "severe violations of the discipline and the law," the CPC discipline watchdog said Friday.

Investigations showed that Zhang abused his position by taking bribes and then helping those who gave him the money and goods, a statement from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said.

He also received cash gifts and led a "corrupt life." All his illegal gains would be confiscated, the statement said.

Zhang, 52, became the Party chief and deputy general manager of China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator by subscribers, in May 2008. He also had worked for the country's telecom giant, China Unicom, as Party chief and general manager since May 2003.

He became the vice minister of China's Industry and Information Technology Ministry in early 2000.