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"The President and Prime Minister will discuss ways to
strengthen and broaden bilateral relations and enhance
cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region," the statement said.
Confirmation of the visit is the latest sign of warming ties
between Bangkok and Washington. The relationship between the two
had cooled after the Thai military took power in a 2014 coup.
It follows a visit to Thailand by U.S. Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson in August - the highest level visit by a U.S. official
since the 2014 coup.
"The meeting of the two leaders reflects the importance of the
strengthening of the alliance between Thailand and the U.S.,"
the Thai Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
"The two countries will discuss ways to forge ahead in becoming
strategic partners for the benefit of both nations equally and
sustainable,"
Prayuth and members of his cabinet will also be meeting with
representatives of Thai businesses in the United States during
the three day visit.
Thailand is often cited as the United States' oldest ally in
Southeast Asia and the United States has been urging the region
to do more to cut funding streams to North Korea.
Tensions have mounted on the Korean peninsula since North Korea
conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3.
The United States has said it believes North Korean front
companies are active in Thailand and it is trying to encourage
the Thais to shut them down, but Thailand last month said trade
between Thailand and North Korea had dropped by as much as 94
percent over the past year.
(Reporting by Eric Beech in WASHINGTON and Panu Wongcha-um in
BANGKOK; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Mohammad
Zargham and Michael Perry)
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