Rudd following Rio/China case personally

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's consular pact with China limits the demands it can make in relation to its citizen being detained by Chinese authorities on suspicion of stealing state secrets, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Wednesday.

Stern Hu, a senior iron ore executive with Rio Tinto, was detained by China earlier this month.

Speaking at a press briefing, Rudd said he had told China he was following the Rio case personally, adding it was in all sides interests to resolve the case.