Key Points
- Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were overheard discussing biotechnology, organ transplants and longevity.
- It took place as leaders attended a parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of World War Two's end.
- The Russian and Chinese leaders signed more than 20 agreements ranging from energy to AI, and a new gas pipeline.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin walked shoulder to shoulder with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a hot mic caught them discussing organ transplants and the possibility that humans could live to 150 years old.
The moment came as Putin and Xi walked with North Korea's Kim Jong-un at the head of a delegation of more than two dozen foreign leaders on Wednesday, to view a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
The moment was carried on the livestream provided by state broadcaster CCTV to other media, including agencies AP and Reuters. China's radio and TV administration said CCTV's coverage of the event was viewed 1.9 billion times online and by more than 400 million on television.
As Putin and Xi walked toward the Tiananmen rostrum where they viewed the parade with Kim, Putin's translator could be heard saying in Chinese: "Biotechnology is continuously developing."
The translator said, after an inaudible passage: "Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality."
In response, Xi, who was off camera, can be heard responding in Chinese: "Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old."
Kim was smiling and looking in the direction of Putin and Xi, but it was not clear if the conversation was being translated for him. Putin cannot be heard speaking clearly in Russian in the CCTV clip.
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the world is facing a choice between "peace or war" as he held his country's largest-ever military parade in Beijing. Source: Getty / Liu Weibing
"I think when we went to the parade, the chairman talked about it," Putin told reporters in Beijing when asked about the leaked conversation.
"Modern means of health improvement, medical means, even surgical ones related to organ replacement, they allow humanity to hope that active life will continue differently than it does today," he said.
China's foreign affairs ministry and CCTV did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment.
As Xi started speaking, the video cut to a wide shot of Tiananmen Square and the audio faded.
Just over 30 seconds later, Xi, Putin and Kim reappeared on camera as they walked on the steps towards the viewing platform for the parade.
At the event, Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators the world faced a choice of "peace or war" as he inspected troops and cutting-edge military equipment, including hypersonic missiles and naval drones.
Putin arrived in China on Monday to attend a summit organised by Beijing that convened more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Putin and Xi signed more than 20 agreements on subjects ranging from energy to artificial intelligence, and agreed to build a major new gas pipeline, without announcing key details on financing or the pricing of the gas to be sent to China.
