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The ceremony took place at the Berlin Konzerthaus. In his opening remarks, Mr Putin said the collaborative culture events to be held as part of the Encounters would give a new impetus to the development of relations between Russia and Germany.

The wide-ranging programme includes a Year of Russian Culture in Germany. President Putin said he was hopeful that it would give German society a more objective picture of what life in Russia is really like, helping it to get rid of some deeply rooted stereotypes.

At the Berlin Konzerthaus, Mr Putin and Mr Rau attended a performance by the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mikhail Pletnev.

At a reception to usher in the Year of Russian Culture in Germany, President Putin met with prominent German politicians, federal ministers, Bundestag deputies, people in the arts, members of the research community and the clergy.