China extends investigation of Rio Tinto employees

ADELAIDE, Australia

Four Rio Tinto employees, including an Australian citizen, who have been held in China on bribery and espionage charges will be investigated for at least another two months, Australia's foreign minister said Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Singapore, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters that Australia had been advised this week that Chinese authorities had extended their investigation of the mining giant's employees until "early to mid-January."

"We continue to say to Chinese authorities ... that whilst we understand that this matter is being progressed in accordance with Chinese law, we do think it's in everyone's interest for the matter to be expedited and resolved as quickly as possible," Smith said.

Four Rio employees, including Australian Stern Hu, were detained July 5 on charges of bribery and commercial espionage during iron ore price talks. They were charged in August with paying bribes to obtain confidential information about China's steel industry.

Smith said Hu is in good health and a good state of mind.