Late Wednesday the Chinese authorities announced the trial will be held in Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People’s Court, where Hu will face charges of taking bribes and infringing commercial secrets.

The latter carries a maximum sentence of seven years jail.

Hu and the three others were detained in China on July 5, 2009, during contentious iron ore price talks with China’s steel industry group.

In a statement, Rio Tinto said it believed the sessions on receiving bribes would be held in open court, and the sessions on stealing commercial secrets would be held in a closed court.

The Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai also received official notification, along with Hu’s family and lawyers.

However, the consular has asked that the decision to close the court be reconsidered.

It was advised that officials from Shanghai could attend open sessions of the trial, but not the closed sessions.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has also reportedly weighed into the debate.

In an article in the Australian, Rudd warned China that “the world will be watching” the trial.

“The first thing I'd say is that the Australian government will do all that is necessary to support Mr Hu's interests,” Rudd reportedly said.

“The second thing I'd say is that China's legal system is different to the Australian legal system.

“The third thing I'd say is this: the world will be watching how this particular court case is conducted.”