Open mic caught Xi, Putin discussing immortality

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin
discussed life-prolonging organ transplants and immortality as they chatted
before Beijing's massive military parade this week, in comments picked up by
state media microphones.
Historic images showed Xi shaking hands and speaking with Putin and North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they walked down a red carpet by Tiananmen Square,
in scenes viewed as a challenge to US President Donald Trump.
"These days... 70 years old," Xi said in Mandarin as
he walked beside Putin and Kim, footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed.
Xi's
translator, conveying his remarks to Putin, is then heard in Russian quoting a
line from a Tang dynasty poem: "In the past, it used to be rare for
someone to be older than 70 and these days they say that at 70 one's still a
child."
Putin then turned towards Xi, speaking while gesturing with his hands, though
this is inaudible on the CCTV feed.
The same
Chinese translator then relayed Putin's remarks to Xi.
"With
the... development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously
transplanted, people could get younger as they grow older, and may even become
immortal," Putin said, according to the translator.
Xi then spoke again in Mandarin as the camera cut away: "Predictions are,
in this century, it may be... possible to live to 150 years old."
Putin
confirmed the exchange during a press briefing on Wednesday.
"Ah,
I think it was when we were going to the parade that the Chairman spoke about
this," he told reporters, referring to Xi.
"Modern
means -- both health improvement and medical means, and then even all kinds of
surgical ones related to organ replacement -- allow humanity to hope that
active life will continue not as it does today," Putin added.
The
Chinese and Russian leaders, both 72, have not expressed any intention of
stepping down.
While Xi's
predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao relinquished power after 10 years in
office, he abolished term limits in 2018 and in 2023 was handed a third term as
Chinese president.
















