In an unscripted moment captured by a live broadcast, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un briefly veered from geopolitics to human longevity during a private conversation ahead of a military parade in Beijing.
The conversation took place as the leaders made their way to Tiananmen Square. A snippet aired live, reportedly unintentionally, revealing Xi speaking in Mandarin: “In our time…” followed by “70 years.” A Russian interpreter was then heard saying, “People rarely lived to 70 before, but today 70 is considered young—almost like childhood.”
Putin’s response, translated into Chinese, picked up on the same theme. He pointed to biotechnology as a promising frontier, noting that repeated organ transplants could soon help humans feel decades younger—and possibly even achieve biological immortality.
Xi agreed and added that, based on emerging projections, living to 150 years old may become a realistic goal within the 21st century. The feed was quickly switched to a different camera, cutting off the rest of the exchange.
Both Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are 72 years old, and neither leader has named a successor. Xi, having eliminated term limits in 2018, is expected to remain in office well past 2027. Putin, whose constitutional amendments allow him to rule until 2036, would be 84 years old by the end of that term.
This conversation comes at a time when Russia’s political elite appear increasingly fixated on extending life—both figuratively and literally. According to The Times and Russian outlet Meduza, the Kremlin’s inner circle is investing heavily in longevity science.
Putin is reported to have tried unorthodox anti-aging treatments, including bathing in blood extract from deer antlers, a method promoted in Siberia and rumored to have rejuvenating effects. Russia has reportedly agreed to begin exporting live deer to China.
The Kremlin recently launched a national health initiative titled “New Health Preservation Technologies,” with a staggering budget of 2 trillion rubles (approx. $21 billion). The plan includes funding for anti-aging research, regenerative medicine, and biotechnology.
The Kremlin recently launched a national health initiative titled “New Health Preservation Technologies,” with a staggering budget of 2 trillion rubles (approx. $21 billion). The plan includes funding for anti-aging research, regenerative medicine, and biotechnology.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova announced that Russia hopes to introduce cell-rejuvenating therapies by 2028–2030—treatments that could slow, stop, or even reverse aspects of biological aging.
According to Meduza, at least one senior Russian official has instructed scientists to develop pharmaceuticals specifically targeting aging, signaling a growing political and scientific alignment on longevity as a national priority.
Despite the grand vision, life expectancy for men in Russia remains low, averaging around 67 years. Critics have questioned the Kremlin’s longevity ambitions as out of touch with the daily realities of Russian healthcare, which continues to suffer from underfunding and regional inequality.
Despite the grand vision, life expectancy for men in Russia remains low, averaging around 67 years. Doubts have been raised regarding the Kremlin’s long-term healthcare goals, as they appear disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by Russia’s healthcare system, which persists in dealing with chronic underfunding and regional disparities.
Nevertheless, the frank conversation between three of the globe’s most influential leaders highlights how the desire for extended lifespan has transitioned from a marginal concept to an openly discussed topic.
