The authoritarian strongmen Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have mused on how organ transplants might lead to immortality, during a brief exchange of small talk caught on a hot mic at a military parade.
The Russian president was in Beijing on Wednesday with the Chinese leader, who hosted allies for a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war.
As Putin and Xi walked at the head of a delegation of foreign leaders, state media aired live footage that captured parts of what appeared to be a private conversation. While they made their way towards a raised platform in Tiananmen Square, Putin’s interpreter could be heard saying in Chinese: “Biotechnology is continuously developing.”
After a brief inaudible passage, the interpreter added: “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.”
Putin confirmed later to reporters he had discussed prospects for significantly increasing human life expectancy with Xi.
Both leaders have shown little intention of relinquishing power in their lifetimes. In 2018, Xi abolished presidential term limits, paving the way for him to rule indefinitely. Putin has also changed Russian law to allow him to remain in high office.
During their conversation, the two men walked alongside the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, who was smiling and looking in the direction of Putin and Xi. It was not clear if their chat was being translated for him.
Later footage showed the three leaders walking up the steps towards the viewing platform for the parade.
The moment was carried on the livestream provided by the state broadcaster CCTV to other media, including the international newswires AP and Reuters.
China’s largest-ever military parade included 50,000 spectators and a big display of military hardware, from tanks and drones to nuclear-capable missiles, fighter jets and stealth aircraft.
The performance was seen as a show of defiance to the west. Other attenders included the president of Belarus, Aleksander Lukashenko, the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing.
In his formal address, Xi told the crowd that the Chinese people stood firmly “on the right side of history”. He said China was a great nation that was “never intimidated by any bullies” – in an apparent veiled reference to the US and its allies – and added that China was “unstoppable”.
Reuters contributed to this report
