Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping's private conversation about immortality was broadcasted live worldwide due to a broadcasting accident. The two 72-year-old leaders, who have laid the groundwork for lifelong rule, even mentioned 'immortality' beyond biological lifespan extension.
According to foreign media outlets such as The Guardian and Reuters, during the 80th victory anniversary parade held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on the 3rd (local time), President Putin and President Xi, along with other leaders, were moving to the inspection parade when part of their conversation was captured by a live broadcast microphone from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
At that time, President Putin's interpreter told President Xi in Chinese, 'Biotechnology is constantly advancing. Human organs can continue to be transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and even immortality can be achieved.' Moments later, President Xi replied, 'Some predict that humanity could live up to 150 years in this century.' This conversation was transmitted worldwide through international news agencies such as the Associated Press and Reuters.
The two leaders have currently established all the institutional frameworks for 'political immortality.' President Xi revised the constitution in 2018 to remove term limits for the presidency. President Putin also paved the way for long-term rule until 2036 through a constitutional amendment in 2020. Their interest in biological lifespan extension can be interpreted as an obsession with eternal power.
According to the Russian independent media outlet Meduza, President Putin has been pursuing the issue of life extension not merely as a curiosity but at a national project level. Mikhail Kovalchuk, a long-time confidant of President Putin, is investing massive funds in technologies for printing artificial organs.
Last year, President Putin instructed the establishment of an anti-aging research center called 'New Health Preservation Technology.' Putin's eldest daughter, Maria Vorontsova, an endocrinologist, is leading a genetics research program that receives government support worth billions of dollars. This program aims to prevent cellular aging and extend lifespan.
After the parade, when asked related questions at a press conference, President Putin acknowledged that he had a conversation with President Xi on this topic. He said, 'Modern health promotion means, including surgical measures related to organ replacement, gives hope that humanity can lead a more active life than now.'
The New York Times (NYT) assessed it as 'a moment demonstrating how medical advances intersect with geopolitics, in a situation where two leaders in their 70s wish to remain in power.' Al Jazeera reported that 'the two leaders were seen discussing organ transplants and the possibility of living up to 150 years.' The governments of China and Russia did not provide official comments regarding this broadcasting incident.