ASHGABAT, February 6 (RIA Novosti) – Trade between Russia and Turkmenistan has recovered after the global economic crisis and there are good prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation in many industries, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said on Wednesday.

Dvorkovich, who co-chairs the Russian-Turkmen intergovernmental commission, met Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Ashgabat to discuss bilateral cooperation.

“Trade has reached the level we achieved before the crisis. We have built up both exports and imports, which means that our cooperation is mutually advantageous,” Dvorkovich said.

Bilateral trade grew 12 percent year-on-year in January-November 2012 to $1.227 billion, according to Russia’s Federal Customs Service. Russian energy giant Gazprom purchases 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Turkmenistan annually.

Russia-Turkmenistan cooperation has huge potential for expansion in all areas, especially fuel and energy, machine-building, car-making, technical and energy equipment deliveries, science and education, and partnerships between entrepreneurs and regions from both countries, Dvorkovich said.

“I believe our strategic interaction is developing very well. And I believe we’ll be able to achieve more serious results soon,” he said.