Australia urged to treat Rio Tinto spy case 'properly'

A senior Chinese diplomat yesterday urged Australia to respect the judicial sovereignty of China in handling the espionage case involving Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto.

"The Australian side should look at it as an individual case and treat it properly," said Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei.

He made the remarks during a press briefing in advance of strategic and economic talks between the US and China, which will be held in Washington July 27-28.