The federal government has confirmed a Chinese court will put Stern Hu and three other Rio Tinto officials on trial on charges of industrial espionage.
"Today, Australian officials received formal confirmation from the Shanghai People's Procuratorate that the case had been formally transferred to the Shanghai No 1 Intermediate Court for trial," a statement from Foreign Minister Stephen Smith's office said.
The four Rio employees were detained in July during contentious iron ore price talks with China's steel industry group.
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The case strained relations between Beijing and Australia, a key supplier of iron ore to China's steel mills.
"The procuratorate has also confirmed the charges are for receiving bribes and stealing commercial secrets," Mr Smith's office said.
"The case documentation is being transferred to the court today.
"A trial date has yet to be determined."
