A file photo shows Zhang Kunsheng. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

A former official with China's central government has been kicked out of the Party and is likely to face criminal charges.

Former assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Kunsheng has been removed from the rolls of the Communist Party of China for violating internal party rules.

These have included accepting bribes, abuse of power, obstruction of justice and excessive spending on government-funded trips.

CPC officials are now forwarding the results of their investigation to judicial authorities for potential criminal prosecution.

Zhang Kunsheng fell under investigation early last year as part of the government's wide-scale crackdown on graft.