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Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Friday cited a Chinese government website explaining the allegations against Mr Hu.
'As understood from a Shanghai State Security Bureau, during China's iron ore negotiations with foreign miners in 2009, Stern Hu gathered and stole state secrets from China via illegal means including bribing internal staff of Chinese steel companies,' Mr Smith said, quoting the website.
'This has caused huge loss to China's national economic security and interests.'
Rio Tinto said it remained ready to assist Chinese authorities in their investigation.
'Rio Tinto is committed to high standards of business integrity and takes its ethical responsibilities very seriously,' it said.
'Rio Tinto has not been informed by the Chinese authorities of any charges in relation to these allegations.
'We will continue to work to support our employees and their families in China.
'In this regard we have been liaising very closely with the Australian government.'
Mr Hu, the Shanghai-based general manager of Rio Tinto's Chinese iron ore business, has been detained on suspicion of spying and stealing state secrets since Sunday.
Australian consular officials are due to meet with him on Friday.
