Russia to assess time zone reduction

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has suggested that Russia reduce its number of time zones, which currently stands at 11 across its vast territory.

The country stretches more than 8,851 kilometers west to east. When the Kremlin's bell tower on Red Square tolls 9am in Moscow, it's already 6pm in the country's Far East.

Medvedev noted that Russia's vastness is a source of national pride, but it also hinders economic development.

He hopes reducing the number of time zones will improve this situation. Medvedev stressed the need to assess the advantages and what he called "obvious discomforts" of eliminating some of the time zones.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President, said, "The examples of other countries, such as the US and China, show that it is possible to cope with a smaller time difference. These are also big countries. We need to examine the possibility of reducing the number of time zones. Naturally all the consequences of such a decision should be calculated. This also concerns the practicality of changing between winter and summer time."