US Secretary of State to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, Aug 3 (TNA) - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will pay an official visit to Thailand on Aug 8 as a guest of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his visit, Tillerson will pay his respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and will pay a courtesy call to Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Bussadee Santipitak. The US Secretary of State will meet Thai Foreign Minister to discuss bilateral relations and other issues of interest. Apart from Thailand, Tillerson will also travel to the Philippines and Malaysia from Aug 5-9, according to the US State Department. He will participate in meetings of diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila, and discuss "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, maritime security, and counterterrorism," the State Department said. In Malaysia, he will discuss bilateral relations with officials there. (TNA)