WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump Monday suggested reducing the U.S. trade deficit with Thailand when meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the White House.

"Our relationship on trade is becoming more and more important. And it's (Thailand's) a great country to trade with," Trump told visiting Thai Prime Minister Prayut in front of reporters ahead of their bilateral talks.

"I think we're going to try and sell a little bit more to you now, make that a little bit better if that's possible," said Trump.

Statistics from the U.S. Trade Representative shows that the United States maintained an 18.9-billion-U.S. dollar's goods trade deficit with Thailand in 2016.

Over the past decade, two-way trade between Washington and Bangkok has grown by more than 36 percent, with U.S. exports to Thailand increased by more than 30 percent to 10.6 billion dollars.

Major U.S. export categories to the southeastern country include electrical machinery, machinery, aircraft, optical and medical instruments, and vehicles.

"We have a very strong relationship right now," said Trump.

Thailand will work closely to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries, said Prayut.