Zhang Lan, CEO of the dining chain South Beauty, has changed her nationality, confirmed Beijing Chaoyang District Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Beijing Morning Post reported Wednesday.

The Committee also said that it has received Zhang's application to relinquish her membership from the CPPCC political advisory body.

Chaoyang district court said on November 19 that Zhang had allegedly revoked her hukou (household registration) to avoid a summons in a lawsuit filed by Ma Yi, her former business partner. Zhang's son Wang Xiaofei, president of South Beauty Group, denied one day later that Zhang was deliberately avoiding a court appearance over the dispute.

Zhang was elected to the CPPCC Chaoyang District Committee last year.