Strong men, hot mics: Putin and Xi dream about “immortality,” living to 150

In a revealing moment at a recent gathering in Beijing, prominent leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea engaged in a candid discussion about longevity and the quest for immortality. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un met to mark the anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, but their conversation took an unexpected turn. Caught on hot microphones, the trio pondered the implications of life extension. Xi stated, "Earlier, people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 years, you are still a child," a remark that seems exaggerated given that China's life expectancy averages 77.6 years, while Russia's stands at around 70, both below the global average of 71.4 years. Putin added to the discourse with a somewhat unsettling assertion about biotechnology, claiming that advancements in human organ transplantation could allow people to live increasingly younger lives, potentially achieving immortality. In response, Xi suggested that by the end of this century, humans might even reach the age of 150. This exchange highlights not only their personal aspirations but also reflects a deeper anxiety among aging leaders regarding their legacy and the passage of time.