ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump said Friday he may ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider the release of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai when they meet next week.

Responding to questions about a request from lawmakers for the president to raise Lai’s case, Trump said, "I might do that, yeah. Well, I have a lot of respect for (Sen.) Rick Scott and a lot of them that are asking me to do that."

“It's on my list. I'm going to ask. Look, they're big enemies, so we'll see what happens, you know. Jimmy Lai and President Xi are big enemies, but it's been a long time, and it'll be on my list,” Trump told reporters as he was departing for Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

Trump will meet with Xi on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the South Korean port city of Busan.

Lai, a Hong Kong businessman and politician, is facing charges for “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces,” under Beijing-imposed security legislation, as well as conspiring to publish “seditious” materials as the now-defunct popular Apple Daily founder.

If convicted, he may face life in prison. His trial began Dec. 18, 2023. Lai has pleaded not guilty to two charges of colluding with foreign forces, as well as a sedition charge.