Hoping for immortality? Media reveals part of talk between Putin and Xi Jinping
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping (Getty Images)
The Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed the possibility of longevity — they are not opposed to living up to 150 years. However, it is unclear how serious this conversation between them was, Bloomberg reports.
It is reported that the conversation between Xi and Putin took place with the participation of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. The microphone was supposedly off, but it recorded the statements of all three leaders. The text was voiced by a translator, even though the conversation was theoretically meant to remain "off the record."
"Earlier, people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 years you are still a child," Xi said as all three leaders walked through the Tiananmen gates in Beijing to attend a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
In response, Putin said that with the development of technology, it will be possible to replace human organs with new ones. In the long term, this is a step toward immortality.
"With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, and people can live younger and younger, and even achieve immortality," he added.
Apparently, Kim also took part in the conversation, as a separate translator voiced phrases in Korean about long life and organ transplantation. Xi Jinping responded that there is a chance to live significantly longer.
"Predictions are, this century, there’s a chance of also living to 150," he said.
The outlet notes that this moment in the conversation stands out sharply from the carefully orchestrated event related to Chinese power. Beijing always strictly controls information and never does anything without purpose — instances when situations were truly accidental can be counted on one hand.
Moreover, all three leaders, the article adds, have issues with age and health. Two of them — Putin and Xi — have no official successors as heads of state, which forces them to continue concentrating power in their hands.
"Xi, 72, ended presidential term limits and is set for a potential fourth term leading China in 2027, while Putin, also 72, has changed his nation’s laws to allow him to rule Russia for longer. Kim, 41, took his daughter to Beijing, adding to speculation that he’s grooming her as a successor," the report says.
Putin’s visit to China
On August 31, Putin arrived in China for a four-day visit. On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Putin stated that Russia did not start the war against Ukraine and that it would continue until the "root causes" are eliminated.
On September 2, Putin and Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing. However, no statements regarding Ukraine were made following the meeting.
On September 3, Putin attended a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the war of resistance against Japanese invaders and in World War II.
