A private exchange between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping was unintentionally broadcast to the public after their microphones were left on during a prominent event in Beijing.
The incident took place on Wednesday, September 3rd, during a military parade at Tiananmen Square marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. As Putin, Xi, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un approached the podium, their microphones—meant to be muted—picked up a conversation between Putin and Xi on a topic rarely discussed in official diplomatic circles: immortality and organ transplantation.
According to reports from the BBC, Xi, speaking through his interpreter, noted, “In the past, living beyond 70 was uncommon; nowadays, 70 is considered relatively young.” Putin responded with intrigue, saying, “Thanks to advances in biotechnology, organs can be repeatedly transplanted, enabling people to grow younger, potentially even achieving immortality.” He went on to suggest that it might be possible for humans to live up to 150 years within this century.
Kim Jong-un appeared entertained by the discussion, though it’s unclear how much of the conversation he fully grasped, given that it was primarily translated through interpreters. Despite the private nature of their dialogue, the conversation was aired live by Chinese media, sparking widespread interest and curiosity worldwide.
