Corrupt officials flee China

The Chinese state news agency says that about 4,000 corrupt officials have fled the country over the past 20 years.

These officials have taken a total of $50bn with them, according to Xinhua news agency.

A report published by the Ministry of Finance said that in many cases, money had been transferred abroad through offshore financial centres, such as the British Virgin Islands or the Bahamas.

The report estimates that Chinese companies and individuals have registered tens of thousands of firms in such offshore centres.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service