Crean hoping to discuss Hu in Bangkok

(AAP) Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean has described the Stern Hu case as an "unfortunate distraction" to the relationship between Australia and China.

Mr Hu, an iron ore executive with Rio Tinto, and three of his Chinese colleagues
were officially arrested by Chinese authorities this week on suspicion of commercial
bribery and stealing commercial secrets.
The allegations - which related to annual iron ore negotiations - have created
friction between Australia and China though both countries have denied it would have
long-term ramifications.
The claims against the Rio Tinto workers are much less onerous that original
allegations of spying and stealing state secrets levelled against the group, which
are punishable by death in China.
Mr Crean, who is heading to Bangkok for a meeting of the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN), hopes to meet his Chinese counterparts to discuss the matter.
He believes diplomatic efforts from Australia has helped the situation.
"We think that the pressure that we've been applying internally has had something of
an impact," Mr Crean told reporters.
"Clearly, we will continue to keep that pressure up and if my counterpart comes to
Bangkok, as I expect he will, then I will have the opportunity again to raise this
matter with him, as I did a couple of weeks ago."
Mr Crean disputed any suggestion the matter was affecting the bilateral relationship.
"I don't think it's having an impact on the bilateral relationship," he said.
Instead, the issue was more just a distraction.
"(China needs) Australia as much as we need them and that's why the Hu Stern thing
is an unfortunate distraction from the strength of that relationship, but it is a
distraction," Mr Crean said.