China's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, passed a decision Tuesday to remove Tian Fengshan from the post of the minister of land and resources for his "serious problem of discipline violations."

The legislature also appointed Sun Wensheng, former vice-minister of land and resources, to take the place of Tian.

"Tian is still under investigation," the State Council said in a document submitted to the lawmakers.

Tian, 63, had served as secretary of the Mudanjiang City Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Heilongjiang Province, vice-governor of Heilongjiang, secretary of the CPC Harbin City Committee in Heilongjiang, deputy secretary of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, and governor of Heilongjiang Province before he was appointed minister of land and resources in March 2000.

The new minister, Sun Wensheng, 61, had served as secretary of the CPC Zhuzhou City Committee in Hunan Province, deputy secretary of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, deputy secretary of CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee, vice governor of Shanxi, acting governor and then governor of Shanxi Province. In June 1999, he was appointed vice-minister of land and resources and become the ministry's party secretary in October 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2003)