Rio chief executive Tom Albanese also said the company hoped for a "timely and transparent resolution" of the case against top executive Stern Hu, who was arrested weeks after the 19.5 billion US dollar tie-up collapsed.

"We are still keen to work with Chinalco in future on projects of mutual benefit," Albanese told a conference in Perth.

"It is too early to say what these might be but I am encouraged that we have had some recent engagement," he added.

"We want the underlying common interests between Rio Tinto and China to once again drive us towards ever-deepening co-operation."

Rio snubbed Chinalco's offer in favour of a joint venture in Western Australia with bitter rival BHP Billiton in June. Albanese said a binding agreement was expected by December 5.

In July, the arrest of Australian passport-holder Hu and three of his colleagues amid fraught iron ore contract talks also drove a wedge between Canberra and Beijing.

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