China's energy authorities are highlighting the harmfulness of corruption and are asking officials to learn from previous cases, as the nation's former industry czar was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison for bribery.

Liu Tienan, 60, former vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission and former chief of the National Energy Administration, took bribes worth about 35.5 million yuan ($5.8 million), the Langfang Intermediate People's Court in Hebei province found.

All of Liu's property was confiscated under the court judgment.