Aust, China discuss detained Rio executive

October 25, 2009 02:46:57 PM

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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he had raised the issue of detained mining executive Stern Hu during talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao because the case was a "matter of concern" to Australia.

Rudd met with the Chinese leader on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Thailand on Saturday and the pair discussed climate change and trade along with the continued detention of the Rio Tinto iron ore negotiator in Shanghai.

Australian passport holder Hu was arrested, along with three other Rio Tinto colleagues, in July and faces allegations of corporate espionage and bribery.

"In the discussion I had with Premier Wen I indicated we had continuing consulate matters which need to be resolved between our foreign ministers, and this included representatives of the Australian company Rio Tinto," Rudd said.

"My purpose in raising these matters today was simply to highlight the fact that this is a continuing matter of concern to Australia," he told reporters in Thailand on Saturday.

The detention of Hu, Rio Tinto's lead negotiator on iron ore prices in Shanghai, has raised diplomatic concerns between Australia and key market China and sent a sobering message to the business community.

Hu originally faced more serious allegations of stealing state secrets, but Beijing softened its case, which Australia has previously attributed to the "internal pressure" of its diplomatic efforts.

On Friday, Australian officials confirmed that the investigation against Hu had been extended but that the full details of the charges against him would probably not be known until he faced trial.