Are Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping trying to ‘achieve immortality’?

At Beijing’s grand military parade on September 3, 2025, marking 80 years since the end of World War II, an unusual moment stole the spotlight. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were caught on a hot mic discussing human longevity, biotechnology, and even the prospect of immortality—while North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walked beside them.

As reported by the New York Post, the brief exchange, broadcast live on Chinese state media, began with Putin remarking through his translator: “Biotechnology is continuously developing.” From there, the conversation shifted to organ transplants and the possibility of radically extending human life.

“Human organs can be replaced again and again. The longer you live, the younger you become—and perhaps even achieve immortality,” Putin’s interpreter added.


Xi’s translator followed, noting predictions that people could live up to 150 years within this century. “In the past, reaching 70 was rare,” he said. “Now, at 70, life is just beginning.”

Kim Jong Un appeared amused, smiling at the exchange, though it was unclear whether he received a translation of the conversation. The hot mic audio lasted under a minute, frequently cutting out during the livestream.

Their discussion took place just before Xi addressed a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators. In his speech, Xi warned that the world faced a stark choice between “peace or war,” while reviewing an impressive display of military hardware that included hypersonic missiles and advanced naval drones.

Both Putin and Xi, now 72, stood as symbols of political longevity themselves, but their side conversation suggested an interest in a far greater kind of endurance: pushing the boundaries of human lifespan.

The meeting in Beijing followed a separate bilateral discussion between the two leaders a day earlier, underscoring their growing partnership—one that now, intriguingly, seems to extend into conversations about defying mortality itself.