A hot mic caught Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin talking about organ transplants and immortality as the leaders walked together on the sidelines of the military parade in Beijing.
As the Chinese and Russian presidents made their way toward a raised platform in Tiananmen Square, during celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, state media footage inadvertently aired parts of what appeared to be a private exchange.
Accompanied by North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, as well as two dozen foreign leaders, Xi and Putin were heard deep in conversation. Putin’s interpreter was heard saying in Chinese, “Biotechnology is continuously developing.”
After a brief inaudible moment, the interpreter continued: “Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality.”
Xi, who was off camera, could be heard responding in Chinese: “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.”
The unguarded moment was caught during a livestream of the event.
China’s radio and TV administration reported that national broadcaster CCTV’s coverage of the event was watched by over 400 million viewers on television.
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Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke explains what new weapons are on show at a military parade in Beijing.
The Russian president confirmed later that he and Xi had discussed the subject on Wednesday.
“I think when we went to the parade, the chairman talked about it,” Putin told reporters in Beijing when asked about the leaked conversation.
“Modern means of health improvement, medical means, even surgical ones related to organ replacement, they allow humanity to hope that active life will continue differently than it does today,” he said.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CCTV did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As Xi began speaking, the video switched to a wide shot of Tiananmen Square and the audio faded.
Just over 30 seconds later, Xi, Putin and Kim reappeared on camera as they walked on the steps toward the viewing platform for the parade.
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As he inspected troops and cutting-edge military equipment, including hypersonic missiles and naval drones, Xi told the more than 50,000 spectators that the world stood at a crossroads between “peace or war”.
Beijing displayed dozens of missiles, tanks, and armoured vehicles during the parade. Among the smaller exhibits were robotic wolves, which, presented alongside other drones, highlighted the evolving landscape of modern warfare.
During the summit, Putin and Xi signed more than 20 agreements spanning critical sectors including energy and artificial intelligence.
They also agreed to construct a major new gas pipeline, though they did not disclose key details about its financing or gas pricing.
