During a military parade in Beijing, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were overheard discussing organ transplants and the potential for humans to significantly extend lifespan, even achieving immortality.

The conversation, caught on a hot mic, reflects both leaders’ long-standing fascination with longevity and life-extension technologies, with Putin supporting Kremlin-funded research into cell renewal and organ printing.

The parade, attended by Kim Jong-un and other authoritarian leaders, featured a massive display of military hardware and was framed as a show of defiance against the West, The Guardian has reported.

In his formal address, Xi emphasized China’s strength and resilience, portraying the nation as “unstoppable” and “never intimidated by any bullies,” underscoring the event’s political as well as ceremonial significance.