Chinalco says Rio's financial problems "temporary"

SYDNEY, March 2 (Reuters) - Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto's (RIO.L) (RIO.AX) financial problems are only temporary, Chinese state-owned metals firm Chinalco, which plans to invest $19.5 billion into Rio Tinto, said on Monday.

Rio had "encountered some temporary and near-term financial problems" due to the global financial and economic crisis and weakness in metal markets, Chinalco new president, Xiong Weiping, told reporters in Sydney, speaking via a translator.

He was speaking before visiting Canberra to lobby the government on the Rio-Chinalco deal, which would give Chinalco stakes in key iron ore, copper and aluminium assets. (Reporting by Koh Gui Qing, Editing by Mark Bendeich)