The decision that Chinese former Railways Minister Liu Zhijun was expelled from the Communist Party of China due to serious corruption was endorsed in a latest party meeting on Sunday, just a few days before a once-a-decade leadership change.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that the Seventh Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the party on Sunday endorsed a decision, made by the politburo on May 28, to expel Liu from the party.

Liu, also former party chief of the Railways Ministry, was found to have used his position to seek huge illegal profits for private businessmen, causing great economic losses and negative social influence, Xinhua quoted the party’s discipline watchdog – the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection – as saying.

The watchdog also found Liu had taken massive bribes and bore the major responsibility for severe corruption in the railways system, Xinhua said.

Liu had been under investigation since February 2011, when he was removed from his government post on suspicion of "serious disciplinary violations," it said.

Liu's removal is also believed to be linked to the high-speed train collision last July in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, which killed 40 passengers and injured 172 others. The tragedy has been blamed on improper management.

Sunday’s meeting also endorsed a decision to expel the disgraced politician Bo Xilai from the party.

In the past decade, seven central committee members have been removed from their positions, six of who was expelled from the party.