Vietnam will join hands with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar to beef up their rice exports, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Monday.

A cooperation agreement to this effect is being considered by the five countries, which involve the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-MekongEconomic Cooperation Strategy, the newspaper quoted the Vietnamese Trade Ministry as reporting.

Under the agreement, the countries will cooperate on transferring farming techniques and sharing market information to raise the competitiveness of their rice in the world market.

Vietnam and Thailand, the two biggest rice exporters in the world, have already signed a similar agreement. They are expected to meet in Vietnam's Hanoi capital in July to discuss the implementation of the accord.

This year, Vietnam is expected to ship abroad around five million tons of rice; Thailand, eight million tons; Cambodia, about 300,000 tons; and Myanmar, around 100,000 tons.