Australia presses China on detained exec

By Ben Blanchard

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Australia's trade minister pressed China on Saturday for more details about the detention of a Rio Tinto executive, but said he did not expect the case to affect bilateral trade ties.

Stern Hu, an Australian national, and three Chinese employees of Rio Tinto's iron ore department were detained last week, on what China said was suspicion of stealing state secrets.

Simon Crean told reporters he had expressed "strong concern" to the Shanghai city government regarding Hu, and that Australia hoped the issue would be dealt with quickly.

"We've stressed the importance of getting further and better details," the minister said, speaking on the rooftop of a restaurant on Shanghai's historic Bund waterfront.

"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," he added.

"We respect the Chinese legal system and the processes that need to be gone through, but we've indicated that this too is an important issue back home in Australia."

Australian consular officials visited Hu at the Shanghai detention centre where he is being held on Friday. Crean said Hu had appeared well.

"Obviously if charges are laid ... clearly we're also pressing for availability of legal representation as well," he added.