U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will discuss the case of Hong Kong Next Media founder Jimmy Lai with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on May 13, marking his first visit to China since 2017. Bilateral talks are set for the 14th and 15th.
Trump said: "Jimmy Lai—he has caused a lot of trouble for China. He tried to do the right thing. He failed, ended up in jail, and people want him released—I hope he can be released too. So I will bring this up again." Trump noted that he had previously mentioned this matter to China.
Jimmy Lai was convicted on two charges of "conspiring to collude with foreign forces" and one charge of "publishing seditious publications," and was sentenced to 20 years in prison this February.
Trump also said he would bring up the case of Kim Ming-il, founder of Zion Church, who was arrested last year. Zion Church is China's largest underground church.