"Russia has been and remains an integral partner for Germany in forming the world of the future," Steinmeier said as quoted by German Ambassador to Russia Rudiger von Fritsch.
The foreign minister stressed that during the exchange year, the states would strengthen the role of culture and education to bring the two countries together.
"Contacts between individuals from civil societies of our countries are the integral foundation for the formation of Russian-German relations, particularly now when very complex issues turned up on the political agenda," he added.
Moscow and Berlin have been continuing active bilateral cooperation in the political and business areas, despite the cooling in the relations between Russia and western countries over the Ukrainian crisis.
