China's graft-busters target state-owned firms ahead of ambitious reform

Beijing

CHINA'S anti-corruption watchdog has stepped up inspections of state-run conglomerates, focusing on strategic firms, as Beijing prepares to implement its most ambitious reform of government industry in nearly two decades.

Anti-graft inspectors are targeting 53 strategic central government-owned groups, where top executives hold the rank of deputy government ministers, a state industry source familiar with the matter told Reuters.