Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing organ transplants and the possibility of human immortality during an unguarded exchange on the sidelines of a military parade in Beijing.
The conversation, captured on a livestream, took place as Xi and Putin walked with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un through Tiananmen Square during China’s Victory Day event marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Xi’s translator was heard remarking in Russian: “In the past, it used to be rare for someone to be older than 70 and these days they say that at 70 one’s still a child.” Putin responded inaudibly, before his Mandarin translator added: “With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, and people can live younger and younger, and even achieve immortality.”
Xi’s translator then added: “Predictions are, this century, there’s a chance of also living to 150 years old.”
Putin later returned to the theme in public comments. Russian state news agency Tass quoted him as saying: “Modern recovery methods, medical methods, even surgical ones dealing with the replacement of organs, enable humanity to hope for active life to last longer than it does today. Average age is different in different countries but life expectancy will increase significantly.”
Standing alongside Putin and Kim, Xi used the parade to project an alternative vision of global order. Addressing the crowd, he declared: “The world faces a choice between peace and war,” as China showcased its military arsenal, including nuclear-capable missiles.
The event marked the first time Xi, Putin, and Kim appeared together publicly, a display analysts described as a challenge to Western powers. They were joined by 24 other foreign dignitaries, including Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Vietnam’s Luong Cuong, and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The gathering highlighted China’s efforts to position itself as a counterweight to the United States, a trend that accelerated during Donald Trump’s presidency. On Wednesday, Trump accused Xi of conspiring with Russia and North Korea, writing on Truth Social: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America.”
