Don't politicize Rio Tinto trial, China urges

Judicial proceedings against four company staff start next Monday

BEIJING - The trial of Rio Tinto executives next week, involving Australian passport holder Stern Hu and three other Chinese employees, should not be deliberately politicized, China's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

"It is just an individual business case. It should not be politicized or bring a negative impact on Australia-China relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters in Beijing.