Tanzania, June 5 -- St Petersburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Tanzania as a strategic gateway linking East Africa to global markets.

Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 5, President Putin said Tanzania occupies a position in East Africa comparable to that of Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

The Asian country serves as an important bridge between regional economies and major international trade routes.

"Tanzania plays a similar role in East Africa," Putin said while discussing countries whose geographic location and economic connections enable them to link different regions of the world.

He said countries that successfully combine domestic development with strong ties to emerging ce...