【ABC】Smith discusses Hu case with China counterpart

nbnbren

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/23/2634807.htm?section=justin
Smith discusses Hu case with China counterpartPosted Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:17pm AEST
Updated Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:52pm AEST



Stern Hu has been held without charged since the start of July. (Rio Tinto: Supplied)

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has talked to hisChinese counterpart about the case of detained Australian Rio Tintoexecutive Stern Hu.

The face-to-face, which was not a formal bilateral meeting, tookplace on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting onThailand's resort island of Phuket.

Mr Smith discussed the case with Chinese Foreign Minister YangJiechi, in the highest level meeting between Australia and China on thecase since Mr Hu and three other Rio Tinto employees were detainedearlier this month.

Mr Smith says he has been assured China is conducting aninvestigation and the case should not affect the relationship betweenthe two countries.

"It goes to matters of corruption and bribery, it also goes to state secrets as defined under Chinese law," Mr Smith said.

"But the Chinese authorities, including Foreign Minister Yang, are dealing with this matter as an individual case.

"And both of us have been at pains to make this point: we don't seethis going to the wider relationship, which we regard as very good."

Mr Smith says he and Mr Yang agreed not to let the case sour relations between the two countries.

"I pressed the point that we believed that it was important that this matter be conducted expeditiously," he said.

"The Foreign Minister made the point that an investigation wasunderway and that investigation had to be let to come to itsconclusion."

Mr Smith acknowledged it was not a case that was going to beresolved overnight and it would not happen as a result of one meetingbetween foreign ministers.

nbnbren

认领

nbnbren

http://bbs.m4.cn/forum.php?mod=v ... d=183828&extra=