Australia says China canceled minister's visit over Uighur activist rowAugust 18th, 2009 Australia says China canceled minister's visitCANBERRA, Australia — China canceled a senior minister's trip in anger that Australia granted a visa to an exiled Uighur activist, the government said Tuesday, in the latest sign that ties between the two countries are strained. Beijing is upset that Australia defied its wishes by granting a visa to Rebiya Kadeer, an ethnic Uighur Muslim from China's west who lives in exile in the United States, so that she could attend a film festival in the southern city of Melbourne this month.
Rio Tinto receives binding $2 billion offer from Amcor Ltd. for Alcan Packaging divisionsAugust 18th, 2009 Amcor offers $2 bln for Rio Tinto packaging armMELBOURNE, Australia — Packaging company Amcor has offered to buy Rio Tinto's remaining Alcan Packaging divisions for $2.025 billion, the mining giant said Tuesday. The offer encompasses global packaging operations that span pharmaceuticals, tobacco and food.
Chinese President Hu orchestrated Rio Tinto spy arrest: ReportJuly 13th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Chinese President Hu Jintao personally directed the Ministry of State Security to undertake the Rio Tinto investigation, which led to the arrest of the iron ore company's Australian-origin General Manager, Stern Hu, and three others, news.co.au has claimed. According to the report, the investigation appears to be part of a big shift of how China manages its economy, with spy and security agencies promoted to top strategy-making bodies.
Rio Tinto detention tests Australia's relations with ChinaJuly 11th, 2009 SYDNEY - Resources giant Rio Tinto Ltd Saturday welcomed news that its Shanghai-based executive Stern Hu was in good health after almost a week in detention over spying allegations. "Rio Tinto continues to work to support its four China employees and their families and colleagues," the dual Sydney-London-listed company said in a statement about Hu, an Australian, and three Chinese employees.
China arrests Rio Tinto's Shanghai GM on bribery chargesJuly 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The Chinese Government has arrested the Shanghai-based general manager of multinational mining and resources, Rio Tinto, on charges of bribing staff of Chinese steel companies during iron ore negotiations this year. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith disclosed that Stern Hu is being detained on suspicion of spying and stealing state secrets in China.
Chinese news agency says Rio Tinto employees arrested on charge of stealing state secretsJuly 9th, 2009 China arrests Rio Tinto employees on spy chargeBEIJING — Four employees of Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto Ltd. have been arrested on charges of stealing state secrets, China's foreign ministry said Thursday, following their detention amid contentious iron ore price talks.
China to let Australian diplomats meet detained Rio Tinto managerJuly 9th, 2009 China to let Australia see Rio Tinto managerBEIJING — China agreed to let Australia's diplomats meet Friday with a detained Australian employee of miner Rio Tinto Ltd. after the government said it had proof he and three co-workers stole state secrets.
Australian Rio Tinto worker detained in China on espionage chargeJuly 8th, 2009 Australian detained on espionage charge in ChinaSYDNEY — An Australian who heads Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in China has been arrested in Shanghai and accused of espionage, Australia's foreign minister said Wednesday. The detention of the executive and three Chinese nationals working for Rio comes at a tense period between the Anglo-Australian miner and China due to tough negotiations on iron ore prices and the failed plan for China's state-owned Chinalco to buy a big stake in Rio Tinto.
Rio Tinto says 4 employees detained in China; Australia seeks access to Australian citizenJuly 8th, 2009 4 Rio Tinto workers detained in ChinaBEIJING — Four employees of Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto Ltd., including an Australian man, have been detained in Shanghai for undisclosed reasons, the company and government officials said Wednesday. Rio Tinto has been unable to contact the employees, said Ian Head, a company spokesman in Sydney.
Miner Rio Tinto sells Alcan food packaging division for $1.2 billion to reduce debtJuly 6th, 2009 Rio Tinto offloads Alcan division for $1.2 billionSYDNEY — Rio Tinto has sold a division of its Alcan unit for $1.2 billion as it continues to reduce debt, the Anglo-Australian miner said in a statement Monday. The deal to sell its Alcan Packaging Food Americas division to U.S.-based Bemis Company Inc.
Foreign direct investment in China fell 17.8 percent in May, eighth straight month of declinesJune 15th, 2009 Foreign direct investment in China falls 17.8 pctBEIJING — Foreign direct investment in China fell in May for the eighth straight month as the global economic crisis battered trade and corporate finance, the Commerce Ministry said Monday. Foreign direct investment in May totaled $6.4 billion, down 17.8 percent from the same month last year, while the number of new approved foreign companies reached 1,649, down 32 percent year-on-year, ministry spokesman Yao Jian said at a news conference.
Chinese steel industry group opposes proposed Rio Tinto-BHP venture as monopolisticJune 9th, 2009 Chinese steel group opposes Rio-BHP ventureBEIJING — China's steel industry group said Tuesday it opposes a proposed venture between leading iron ore producers BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto as a monopolistic move. "This kind of joint venture agreement has a strong monopolistic color, and the China Iron and Steel Association opposes the establishment of such an agreement," the group said in a statement.
EU steel makers call for antitrust probe into BHP Billiton-Rio Tinto joint iron mining projectJune 9th, 2009 EU steel makers seek probe into BHP-Rio dealBRUSSELS — European steel makers called Tuesday for European Union antitrust regulators to probe a joint mining project between the world's No. 2 and No. 3 iron ore miners BHP Billiton Ltd and Rio Tinto PLC.
Miner Rio Tinto scraps deal with Chinalco, choosing to raise $15.2 billion in share saleJune 5th, 2009 Miner Rio Tinto scraps Chinalco dealSYDNEY — Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto PLC on Friday scrapped its $19.5 billion deal with China's Chinalco, choosing instead to raise $15.2 billion in a share sale and setting up a joint production venture with rival BHP Billiton Ltd. Rio Tinto Chairman Jan du Plessis said in a letter to shareholders the planned deal with Chinalco was now dead and his company would pay it a $195 million break fee, thus ending what would have been China's biggest overseas investment to date.
Miner Rio Tinto ends $19.5 billion deal with Chinese firm ChinalcoJune 5th, 2009 Rio Tinto scraps deal with Chinese firm ChinalcoSYDNEY — Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto PLC on Friday ended its $19.5 billion deal with Chinese company Chinalco, instead saying it plans to raise $15.2 billion in a share sale. Rio Tinto Chairman Jan du Plessis said in a letter to shareholders the planned deal with Chinalco was now dead and his company would pay it a $195 million break fee.
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