Xi Jinping, Putin Recorded Discussing Immortality, Life-Prolonging Organ Transplants

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed life-prolonging organ transplants and the possibility of immortality during a conversation in Beijing’s massive military parade this week, according to state media.

Historic footage 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, scenes widely viewed as a challenge to U.S. President Donald Trump.

“These days… 70 years old,” Xi said in Mandarin while walking beside Putin and Kim, according to footage from state broadcaster CCTV. The remarks were translated to Putin in Russian by Xi’s interpreter, who quoted 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 toward Xi and spoke, gesturing with his hands, though his words were inaudible on the CCTV feed. The Chinese translator relayed his remarks to Xi, stating: “With the… development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, people could get younger as they grow older, and may even become immortal.”

Xi responded 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 Wednesday. “Ah, I think it was when we were going to the parade that the Chairman spoke about this,” he said, 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.”

Both Xi and Putin are 72 and have not expressed any intention of stepping down. Xi’s predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, relinquished power after 10 years in office, but Xi abolished term limits in 2018 and was handed a third term as Chinese president in 2023.

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