Putin, Berlusconi share joke about remaining in power till 120

Berlusconi dropped by in Moscow to meet his "pal" after attending an international forum in Yaroslavl, 250 km northeast from here on Friday, where he had voiced the idea to finance an institute for research in prolonging average human life to 120 year.

Greeting his Italian counterpart at his countryside residence of Novo Ogoryovo, a relaxed Putin asked in a report aired by NTV channel: "So we're going to live until 120?" "It seems so, yes," 73-year-old Berlusconi responded through a Russian interpreter, adding "But that would be an average age, mind. I'm told that leaders will have an even longer life."

"So we will be prime ministers until we are 120 years old?" Putin, 57, quipped. Berlusconi said he thought not, because it involved a lot of work and they were getting tired and complained that he had not had a single holiday this year.

"I think same with you," he asked Putin, who throughout the summers had been involved in fire fighting the country's worst wildfires and drought in over two decades. Later, he travelled to the country's far east and travelled by locally produced Lada car over 2500 km virgin road still under construction.

Putin told Berlusconi that he had some ideas about spending together few days. "But we will discuss this when they leave us alone," he said pointing at the media team covering the event.