China Southern Airlines has dismissed two more executives who are suspected of committing work-related crimes.

The airline dismissed Zhou Yuehai, the company's executive vice president, and chief financial officer, Xu Jiebo, who also resigned as a director.

The airline, which has headquarters in Guangzhou, made the disclosure to the stock exchange of Hong Kong on Thursday. The carrier has made public the dismissal of four executives under investigation since December 30.

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China's Communist Party has stepped up an initiative to weed out corrupt officials since President Xi Jinping has been named general secretary two years ago. A probe into China Southern Airlines is one of several investigations revealed in November last year that also covered state-run companies such as Shenhua Group and China Unicom Group.

On December 30, China Southern announced that it removed the head of flight operations, Tian Xiaodong, and Executive Vice President Chen Gang, after starting a probe into their conduct.

The company Web site showed that of the two executives who were the latest to be removed, Xu has also been the airline's chief accountant since April 2001 and concurrently chairman of China Southern Henan Airlines, Guizhou Airlines and a vice-chairman of Sichuan Airlines.

Xi has asked officials to give the rule of law and more reforms in 2015 their "best shot" in his New Year speech. He said that in 2014, the government carried out reforms, solved many lingering problems and introduced several critical reform measures, which benefited citizens.

Xi added that, under his leadership, China adapted to a new normal of economic expansion, aggressively sought economic and social development and change people's lives for the better.

This year, China will not turn back from pursuing wide and deep reforms, Xi said. He sought to improve the rule of law to protect the people's welfare and rights, pursue social justice and national development.

TagsChina Southern Airlines, anti-graft drive