Beijing court date set for U.S. detainees

Two Chinese men walk past a mural painting of the Statue of Liberty on the wall of a Beijing construction site

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- China's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that a trial for Li Shaomin, a U.S. citizen detained on espionage charges, is scheduled to begin Saturday in Beijing.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing told CNN that a consular official and an interpreter will attend the hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) at the Beijing City Intermediate Peoples' Court.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said the trial would not be open to the public, "in accordance with Chinese law."

Li Shaomin, 45, has been detained since February 25 when he was picked up in Shenzhen, a city in mainland China just north of Hong Kong where he works and lives. Li was charged with espionage in May.

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The trial for Li Shaomin -- if it occurs as scheduled -- will open a day after the International Olympic Committee announces the host city of the 2008 games.

Beijing is a top contender to host the games, but the Chinese government has strenuously denied any link between a possible release of the detained scholars and the IOC's decision.

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Longtime dissident Wei Jingshen was released in 1993 before the announcement of the 2000 Olympic city. China was a top contender then, but lost the bid to Sydney.

When asked for details of a trial for scholar Gao Zhan, Zhang said she had no information, but added that "Gao Zhan is a Chinese citizen."

Although Zhang refused to elaborate, the implication is that Gao would not have a consular official at her trial. Meanwhile, Gao Zhan's attorney Bai Xuebiao has told CNN he was granted a visit with his client Tuesday in Beijing.

The attorney would not elaborate on details of the meeting, but told CNN an early trial date for her did not appear imminent.

"The 14th would be early," he said.

Whatever the timing of a trial for Gao, it would be separate from Li's, since Li is a U.S. citizen and Gao is not. She is classified as a permanent U.S. resident.

Gao was separately detained in Beijing in February as she and her family tried to leave China after a visit.