JINAN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Song Chenguang, former senior political advisor of east China's Jiangxi province, went on trial at a local court in Shandong Province on Wednesday over bribery charges.

　　Song, the former vice chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is accused of taking 12.63 million yuan (2 million U.S. dollars) as bribes between 1998 and 2010 in exchange for offering 18 companies and individuals "conveniences" in contracting projects, gaining sales permission and getting promotions.

　　Prosecutors offered proof of Song's crimes at the court and Song's lawyer defended him.

　　Citizens, the media and some members of Song's family attended the court hearing.

　　Song, 60, is also the former head of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He was expelled from the CPC and removed from office last July.

　　The Intermediate People's Court of Tai'an said it would announce the verdict later.