Prayut prepares for US visit

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday spoke to cabinet ministers regarding his meeting with US president Donald Trump, likely next month.

A Government House source said Gen Prayut called an urgent meeting with ministers and state officials yesterday at Government House to discuss preparations for the visit.

The source said those attending the meeting included Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda, Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn, Energy Minister Gen Anantaporn Kanchanarat.

Others at the meeting were Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Virasakdi Futrakul, Defence Ministry permanent secretary Gen Chanchai Changmongkol, National Security Council secretary-general Gen Thawip Netniyom and officials from the Department of America and South Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting also discussed a wide range of topics which would be raised at the talks. A military source said Gen Prayut and his delegates plan to arrive in the US on Oct 2.

Earlier yesterday, Lt Gen Werachon Sukondhapatipak, deputy Government House spokesman, said key topics that would be raised included the economy, security and natural disaster cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on details.

“We will try to go to [the US] under the existing time frame in early October,” he said.

The planned visit comes at the invitation of the White House, said Lt Gen Werachon, after earlier being postponed from July.

In May, media reports said Mr Trump spoke to the prime ministers of Thailand and Singapore in separate phone calls about the North Korean threat and invited both of them to Washington.