Sino-Aussie ties strong despite Rio Tinto case

SHANGHAI - Despite the Rio Tinto lawsuit, the relationship between Australia and China is still "in very good shape," Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith said on Tuesday.

The Australian foreign minister started his visit to Shanghai from May 18 to 19 to formally open the Australian Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 Expo. It is his first visit to Shanghai as foreign minister, and he is also the first Australian minister to visit Expo.

On March 29, Stern Hu, former executive of mining giant Rio Tinto in Shanghai, and his colleagues Wang Yong, Ge Minqiang and Liu Caikui were convicted of taking bribes and stealing trade secrets. They were sentenced to imprisonment, ranging from seven to 14 years, fined 7.7 million yuan ($1.1 million) and their properties were confiscated. Overseas media quoted Smith as having said the verdict was too harsh "by Australian standards".