Zhang Chunjiang -- who had been the subject of a government probe -- has been removed from his positions as Communist party secretary and vice president of state-owned China Mobile, a company spokeswoman said in a brief statement.

The state-owned parent company had recommended that Zhang be removed from his position as vice-chairman and executive director of the Hong Kong-listed arm of the firm, the statement said.

A meeting of the board of directors would be convened as soon as possible to discuss the matter, it added.

China's state Xinhua news agency quoted an unnamed party official as saying: "The central government has decided to remove (Zhang) from all his current positions."

China Mobile, the world's biggest phone operator by market value, said earlier this week that Zhang was being investigated by the government due to "suspected serious personal violations."

Xinhua has said Zhang was "suspected of a serious breach of party discipline" -- a phrase usually used by the authorities to refer to cases of corruption.

The company said the investigation of Zhang would not affect a plan to sell shares on mainland markets.

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