BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will visit the White House in October (2017), the country's foreign minister said on Tuesday (Aug 15).
Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, speaking to reporters, said trade and security will be among the issues on the agenda, when the junta leader meets United States President Donald Trump.
The visit is the latest sign of warming ties between Bangkok and Washington.
Last week, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid a visit to Thailand - the highest level visit by a US official since the Thai military seized power in a 2014 coup.
Mr Tillerson's trip and Mr Prayut's invitation from Mr Trump to visit the White House are the latest sign that Bangkok and Washington are re-establishing normal diplomatic relations after the coup.
Mr Don said: "There will be discussions with President Trump about trade, investment, military security and the regional situation, which is a big issue."
The Thai government previously said the visit would take place in July.
Mr Steve Castonguay, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Bangkok said he had no new information on Mr Prayut's visit to the White House, which follows an invitation extended by Mr Trump to Mr Prayut during an April telephone call between the two leaders.
He said: "We look forward to the prime minister's visit to Washington, D. C. We continue to seek a mutually agreeable day for the prime minister's visit to the White House."
Mr Tillerson's priority has been urging South-east Asian countries to do more to cut funding streams for North Korea as tensions mount between the US and North Korea.
The US said it believes North Korean front companies are active in Thailand and it is trying to encourage the Thais to shut them down.
Mr Tillerson, however, made no public comment on North Korean firms during his five-hour stay in Bangkok, where he met Mr Prayut.
Mr Don said the issue was not specifically raised during Mr Tillerson's visit.
"The United States has not pressured Thailand to shut North Korea business," he said. "The secretary's visit discussed broad issues."
