Chinese girl fatally stabbed, fellow pupil in custody

The 13-year-old girl was assisting police on Tuesday afternoon following the death of the 14-year-old in the NSW Hunter region.

The pair travelled to Australia as part of a program to attend a local school and were staying at the same residence.

"We're not aware of any other relationship between the two young girls other than they were both part of this program and staying with the host family," NSW Police Superintendent Tracy Chapman told reporters.

The stabbing allegedly took place after residents of the home at Edgeworth, west of Newcastle, had gone to bed.

Emergency services were called about 10.20pm on Monday after one of the hosts heard a commotion and found the 14-year-old girl with stab wounds.

She was treated at the scene before paramedics took her to John Hunter Hospital, where she later died.

A kitchen knife has been seized for forensic examination.

The students arrived in Australia in late July and were expected to depart in mid-August, Supt Chapman said.

Police are working with the Chinese consulate to notify their families.

Specialist detectives and the homicide squad are part of the complex investigation.

"As you can imagine, an investigation with young girls involved, language barriers, working through the consulate - they're not Australian residents obviously - and so there are obvious complications," Supt Chapman said.

Australian Associated Press