Source: Reuters.com                             Date: 25 August, 2010

Rio Tinto hopes to see further cooperation with China's state-owned firms after its tie-up with Chalco, China's largest aluminum producer, CEO Tom Albanese has said, adding his company was willing to help China seek mineral resources at home and abroad. "The partnership with Chalco opens the potential for further cooperation with China's State owned enterprises, focused on assisting China to achieve its goal of securing a sustainable supply of raw materials over the long term," Mr. Albanese said in a speech at a mining industry event in Shanghai.

Mr. Albanese has moved to repair ties with key market China by forging wider business relationships and appointing new executives to the country after a trial earlier this year convicted four Rio Tinto employees of taking bribes and stealing commercial secrets, handing out sentences ranging between 7 and 14 years in prison.

"I do believe that Rio Tinto's long experience in exploring for and finding mineral resources around the world could usefully be brought to bear to supplement China's own effort," Mr. Albanese said. "I also see opportunities for us to team up with Chinese companies to explore outside China, bringing both companies' strengths to the project."