Putin and Xi Overheard Discuss Living to 150 as Longevity Programs and Organ-Transplant Allegations Draw Scrutiny

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were overheard discussing the possibility of greatly extended human lifespans — even living to 150 — while walking together at a national parade in Beijing, remarks that have renewed scrutiny of state-backed longevity initiatives and of past allegations about organ sourcing.

Video and audio excerpts circulated in state and international media captured an interpreter saying, “Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality,” and a voice identified as Xi responding that some people now view 70 as "still a child" and that "some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old." Putin later acknowledged he had discussed prospects for increasing human life expectancy with Xi, according to reporting from outlets that covered the exchange.

The remarks come as both countries have moved to expand research into ageing and regenerative medicine. In Russia, Putin directed lawmakers last year to establish a research centre called New Health Preservation Technologies, described in government documents as focused on regenerative biomedicine, preventive medicine technologies and “ensuring active and healthy longevity.” Russia’s state news agency TASS reported that the Kremlin planned to allocate roughly £2 billion to the country’s longevity programme over five years, and a letter from the Russian health ministry sought proposals on areas including cellular ageing, bioprinting and organ printing.

Chinese authorities have for years prioritized biotechnology and ageing research. The government launched a major research project on organ ageing and degeneration in 2016 and is widely regarded as a leader in certain areas of biotech development. At the same time, China has faced long-running international criticism and accusations concerning its organ-transplant system. A 2021 United Nations human rights report said there were credible allegations that organs had been harvested from detainees, including prisoners, with reports naming hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas among the most commonly removed organs.

Medical scientists and transplant experts responded with caution to the idea that repeated organ transplantation alone could produce extreme longevity. Sir Muir Gray, who leads the Optimal Ageing Programme in Oxford, told the Mail that the emphasis should be on living well rather than simply extending lifespan. Richard Baker, president of the British Transplantation Society, said the notion that serial transplants could be used primarily to extend life “belies a fundamental misunderstanding” of the purpose of organ transplantation, which is to treat failing organs and improve quality of life. Baker said about five people a day die while waiting for an organ transplant in the United Kingdom, and stressed that donated organs are finite and intended to save lives.

Scientific efforts to extend healthy lifespan encompass a range of approaches beyond transplantation. Researchers worldwide are exploring cellular ageing, gene therapies, tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting — a technology that uses bioinks containing living cells to construct tissue-like structures. Proponents argue that bioprinting could eventually produce replacement tissues and organs for patients, potentially reducing dependence on donor organs. Critics caution that many such technologies remain experimental, face substantial technical challenges and raise ethical and regulatory questions.

Private investment has also increased interest in longevity science. Philanthropic and commercial backers in the United States and elsewhere have funded initiatives aimed at slowing biological ageing or developing replacement organs. Reports have linked figures in the tech and venture community to organisations focused on extending healthy human life, and to companies pursuing anti‑ageing and regenerative-medicine research. Media coverage has highlighted both the scientific potential and the ethical dilemmas posed by accelerating commercial interest in life-extension technologies.

Questions about the source of organs have particular resonance because of historical allegations. Human-rights groups and independent media have documented claims that China’s transplant system once relied on organs from executed prisoners, and the 2021 U.N. report underscored concerns about organ harvesting from detained populations. Chinese officials have disputed some allegations and pointed to reforms in transplant policy, but the issue remains sensitive internationally.

In Russia, attention has focused on the political dimensions of longevity programmes. Independent outlets and analysts have reported that figures close to the Kremlin have promoted research into life-extension and technologies such as 3D bioprinting. Media reporting has identified officials and scientists associated with state genetics programmes, and analysts have noted that both political leaders have taken steps in recent years to consolidate power and remove formal limits on time in office, making the prospect of extended personal longevity a subject of public interest.

Experts say translating high-level ambition into safe, effective, widely available medical treatments is a long process. Many interventions proposed to slow ageing have not been shown to extend healthy human lifespan in rigorous clinical trials to the degree sometimes suggested in public discourse. Regulatory frameworks, ethical oversight and transparent sourcing of biological material will be central if therapies such as tissue-engineered organs or repeated transplantation are to be developed and deployed at scale.

The exchange between Putin and Xi has highlighted a tension at the intersection of cutting-edge biomedical research, political power and international human-rights concerns. As states and private actors increase investment in longevity science, scientists, ethicists and policymakers say independent oversight and clear safeguards will be required to ensure that advances preserve human rights and medical ethics while addressing the substantial scientific hurdles that remain.