Did Putin and Xi discuss immortality? Hot mic picks up their conversation about humans living 150 years

The moment was carried on the livestream provided by state broadcaster CCTV to other media, including China-state broadcaster CGTN and news agencies from around the world.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre, and foreign leaders including Russia President Vladimir Putin, centre left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, centre right, walk to Tiananmen Rostrum ahead of a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Shen Hong/Xinhua News Agency via AP)

Xi, Putin discuss organ transplant, immortality

As Putin and Xi walked toward the Tiananmen rostrum where they viewed the parade with Kim, Putin’s translator could be heard saying in Chinese: “Biotechnology is continuously developing.”

The translator added, after an inaudible passage, “human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality.”

In response, Xi, who was off camera, can be heard responding in Chinese: “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.”

Kim was smiling and looking in the direction of Putin and Xi, but it was not clear if the conversation was being translated for him. Putin cannot be heard speaking clearly in Russian in the CCTV clip.

As Xi began speaking, the video cut 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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are seen on a screen as military personnel take part in a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Both Xi and Putin are 72 years old, and with constitutional amendments, they have effectively become presidents of their countries for life by eliminating their respective term limits.

Victory Day parade

China is marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, which commemorates the end of World War II. Head of a delegation of more than two dozen foreign leaders, including Putin and Kim, attended the parade on Wednesday.

At the event, Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators the world faced a choice of “peace or war” as he inspected troops and cutting-edge military equipment, including hypersonic missiles and naval drones.

Xi-Putin meet

Putin arrived in China on Sunday to attend a summit organised by Beijing that convened more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Putin and Xi signed more than 20 agreements, ranging from energy to artificial intelligence, and agreed to build a major new gas pipeline, without announcing key details on financing or the pricing of the gas that would be sent to China.