Sichuan chief: 'Black sheep' don't represent Party

A top official from Sichuan province, where two vice-ministerial officials have been investigated for graft, said corrupt officials are "black sheep" who cannot represent the vast majority of the Communist Party team.

"The Party intensified the fight against graft after the 18th Party congress, and has punished a few officials at different levels, including some from leading positions in Sichuan," Wang Dongming, Party chief of Sichuan, said at a group discussion at the ongoing session of the National People's Congress on Thursday.

"They are a handful of bad apples, but cannot represent the mainstream of our team," he said in response to a reporter's question about whether there will be any "bigger tigers" investigated, a reference to high officials.

Since December 2012, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Party's top anti-graft agency, has launched investigations into several high-ranking officials.

They include Li Chuncheng, former deputy Party chief of Sichuan province, and Li Chongxi, former top political adviser of the province.

Wang said that Sichuan is resolute about clamping down corruption, and will further improve regulations to limit power.