Australia's trade minister has expressed concern over the detention of a Rio Tinto mining company employee accused of stealing state secrets from China.
Simon Crean met Chinese officials in Shanghai on Saturday, nearly a week after Chinese authorities detained four employees of the Anglo-Australian mining giant, including an Australian citizen.
Authorities have accused the Australian executive, Stern Hu, and three of his Chinese colleagues of stealing state secrets during negotiations over iron-ore prices.
Crean, who is in China as part of a trade mission, said he pressed Chinese officials for more details on the detentions, but he said he does not expect the case to affect bilateral trade ties.
"We've stressed the importance of getting further and better details," he said.
"We have no information as to what the investigation does involve. We're going on the basis of press reports. The government here is not able to inform us anymore.
China arrests 'concern' Australia
Australia's trade minister has expressed concern over the detention of a Rio Tinto mining company employee accused of stealing state secrets from China.
Simon Crean met Chinese officials in Shanghai on Saturday, nearly a week after Chinese authorities detained four employees of the Anglo-Australian mining giant, including an Australian citizen.
Authorities have accused the Australian executive, Stern Hu, and three of his Chinese colleagues of stealing state secrets during negotiations over iron-ore prices.
Crean, who is in China as part of a trade mission, said he pressed Chinese officials for more details on the detentions, but he said he does not expect the case to affect bilateral trade ties.
"We've stressed the importance of getting further and better details," he said.
"We have no information as to what the investigation does involve. We're going on the basis of press reports. The government here is not able to inform us anymore.
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