Beijing was all abuzz. A huge military parade was just moments away. China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin stood ready. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un was also there for the grand event. Amidst all the serious pre-parade preparations, a truly unusual conversation unfolded. Microphones from state media, still active, picked up a private chat between the two presidents. Their surprising topic? The idea of living forever.
President Xi, speaking in Mandarin, started the discussion. “Today… 70 years,” he said, walking alongside Putin and Kim. His words were quickly translated. The interpreter then added a line from an old Tang dynasty poem. He quoted, in Russian, “In earlier times, reaching 70 was rare. Now, people say that at 70, you’re still just a child.” It set a thoughtful tone.
Then, President Putin shared his thoughts on the matter. “With new biotech coming along, we might replace organs forever,” the Russian leader explained through his translator. “People could get younger as they age. They might even become immortal.” It painted a picture of a future not far off.
Later, away from the cameras’ main focus, Xi Jinping continued the conversation with Putin. “Forecasts suggest that in this century, living to 150 years could be possible,” the Chinese leader stated. His interpreter shared these words in Russian. The idea of extended life seemed to really capture their attention.
When asked about this moment later, during a short press conference, Vladimir Putin confirmed the chat. “I think it happened when we were on our way to the parade,” he told reporters. “The president [of China] brought it up.” Putin added that new health and medical technologies, like surgical organ replacements, give people hope. They suggest an active life could last much longer than it does now.