Ilsur Metshin opened the conference “Ways to achieve active longevity”

(KZN.RU, April 23, Ekaterina Vislavskaya). The V international conference “Ways to achieve active longevity” was opened in Kazan. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, greeted its participants, experts from 17 countries of the world. He noted the purpose of the city authorities is not only that people could achieve longevity, but also retained the desire and ability to live actively. He expressed the hope that the forum will provide an opportunity to obtain expert opinions for this task.

The conference is held in Kazan from 23 to 25 of April. Scientists, heads of medical companies, experts from 30 universities and researchers from 17 countries discuss the results of recent research in the field of active longevity, approaches to promoting longevity technologies, aging as a program. The anniversary conference is organized by the company “Initiium-Farm” with the support of the Agency for Investment Development of the RT. The grand opening and plenary session were held in the Ballroom of the GTRK “Korston”. Boris Korchevnikov, the well-known TV presenter, was the moderator of the event.

Ilsur Metshin noted that Kazan and Tatarstan live a busy life, with a lot of business, cultural, and sporting events. The city is open to new knowledge in various areas of life and highly appreciates expert opinions. The Mayor added that he was very interested in the topic of the conference as the mayor of Kazan. Taking up this post in 2005, he set himself the task of increasing the life expectancy of the city's residents. “Then Kazan was very different from what it is today. There were many social and infrastructural problems. But most of all I was worried by the short life expectancy, just 65 years”, reminded Ilsur Metshin. The Five-Year Plan of Health was declared in the city and a set of measures was developed. The system of rendering medical assistance has been seriously improved, the development of high-tech medicine has been chosen as a priority, transport infrastructure and traffic have been improved, and large-scale work has been carried out to improve city parks, public spaces and greening the city. The task of increasing the life expectancy of citizens was also added to the development strategy of Kazan until 2030. As a result, Kazan residents began to live on average up to 69 years by 2010, in 2015 – almost to 74, and now – 75.

“But we wanted people not only to achieve longevity, but also to retain the desire and ability to live actively”, said the Mayor of Kazan, presenting the city social project “Zhiznelub”. “We understand that we are only at the beginning of this road, and I have high hopes for this conference. We are looking forward to the presentation of the experience and scientific achievements of the reputable experts gathered here”, he said, expressing hope for further productive cooperation with the conference participants.

In addition, the Mayor of Kazan mentioned sports. “A healthy lifestyle and what we propagandize in our capital, republic and country, is laid down by particular people and projects. We pay great attention to the development of professional sports and sports of the highest achievements. Professional clubs in Kazan in hockey, football, basketball, and volleyball are known far beyond our country borders”, he said and presented Faniya Maganov, the wife of the president of the hockey club, co-organizer of the conference and founder of the company “Initium Farm”.

She reminded the guests about the importance of the topic under discussion and urged for a unification to solve the problem of longevity. “If we unite, we can make a contribution to the solution of most of the important problems of mankind”, noted Faniya Maganova.

Alexey Moskalev, the scientific leader of the V international conference “Ways to achieve active longevity”, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other experts, continued the event. The conference in Kazan will include lectures by such well-known experts as James Mitchell from the Harvard School of Public Health (USA), Dario Ricardo Valenzano from the Institute of Biology of Aging of the M. Planca Society (Germany), Jan Gruber from the National University of Singapore, Joao Pedro de Magalhaes from the Institute of Aging and Chronic Diseases of the University of Liverpool (UK), and other specialists. Also, hematic roundtables are planned.