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Rio Tinto to strengthen ties with China

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Tianjin Port is unloading a batch of iron ore from Australia. [CFP]

Over the next several months, the Rio Tinto and Chinalco will work together to settle down the project by completing the definitive agreement and feasibility studies. Albanese did not detail the plan but said the two companies had set "an aggressive timetable".

Rio Tinto's ties with China were strained last year partly because of Chinalco's rejected deal and the arrest of four Rio Tinto employees.

The employees, including Australian national Stern Hu, were detained in August on allegations of bribery and stealing commercial secrets.

They are to stand trial in the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court from Monday to Wednesday, according to a statement posted on the court's website.

Because of the issue, Albanese's trip to China, although not his first visit to the country, has made headlines on world media.

However, he refused to make any comment on the case.

In a statement last week, the company said it "understands that the sessions on receiving bribes will be held in open court and the sessions on stealing commercial secrets in closed court" and hoped for a transparent and expeditious process for its employees.

The CEO also shied away from question about this year's iron ore negotiation with China by saying "we always leave negotiations to negotiators".

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