During a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, a live microphone captured Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussing organ transplants, immortality and whether humans could one day reach 150 years of age. The remarks, captured by state broadcaster CCTV’s microphones and conveyed through translators, came as Xi and Putin walked alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to Reuters and The Washington Post.
“In the past, people rarely lived to be 70,” Xi said. “But today, they say that at 70, you’re still a child.”
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Putin responded that “people can keep getting organ transplants,” adding that advances in biotechnology could allow people to grow younger with age and “even achieve immortality.”
“Some predict that in this century, humans may live up to 150 years,” Xi said.
How did Putin confirm the exchange?
Putin later confirmed to reporters that the exchange happened as the leaders headed to the parade.
He added that modern medical and surgical methods “allow humanity to hope that an active life can be extended even beyond what is possible today,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
How did the public react?
The conversation quickly drew attention inside China. According to The Washington Post, searches for “150 years” were censored on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media site, though posts on other platforms surged. At least one company used the moment to promote health care services.
The Washington Post noted that Chinese state media previously speculated about advances in health care and technology in recent years, including predictions that humans might one day live to 150.
What was happening at the parade?
The hot mic moment happened during a parade in Beijing marking 80 years since World War II’s end. Xi, Putin and Kim appeared with more than 20 other world leaders.
The parade featured thousands of troops and showcased China’s latest military technology, including hypersonic missiles, naval drones and AI-enhanced anti-drone tanks.
Xi and Putin, both 72, lead countries bound by what they once called a “no limits partnership,” a relationship widely described as challenging the United States-led global order.
Their unusual exchange on longevity and immortality showed how an unscripted remark can eclipse the choreography of a major state event.
