BEIJING - A LEADING official in China's eastern metropolis of Tianjin has been sacked for corruption and will face criminal charges linked to abuse of power, state media said on Wednesday.

Pi Qiansheng, 58, one of the top leaders of the city of 9.3 million and head of its thriving Binhai economic development zone, has been handed over to judicial authorities and will face criminal charges, Xinhua news agency said.

'Pi Qiansheng used his position for personal gain and to seek profits for other people. He received large sums of money, abused his powers and incurred large losses to state assets,' the report said.

Pi was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and relieved of all his official duties on Wednesday, it said, following an internal party investigation that began in December.

As Tianjin is one of China's four provincial-level cities, Pi held a vice-ministerial-level rank, Xinhua said.

China has struggled in recent years to rein in official corruption amid recurring revelations of graft in government ranks.

Last week, Xu Zongheng, 53, was sacked as the mayor of the booming city of Shenzhen and could face criminal charges after an internal Communist Party investigation is completed. -- AFP