ZHENGZHOU, Dec. 5  -- The former Party chief of Anyang City in central China's Henan Province was sentenced to life in jail on Friday for accepting bribes totaling 3.4 million U.S. dollars.

Zhumadian Intermediate People's Court convicted Zhang Xiaodong, former secretary of the Anyang municipal committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), of accepting 21 million yuan and 10,000 U.S. dollars in cash from 36 people between 2003 and 2013.

He sought favors in construction projects and promotions for others. All his bribes and personal property were confiscated.

Zhang expressed regret for failure to resist corruption and hoped to renew himself.

He served as secretary general, vice mayor and mayor of the Anyang municipal government. He was the city's Party chief between April 2012 to April 2013.

He stood trial in September.