On September 3, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were caught on a hot mic, during a military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, discussing biotechnology and the possibility of prolonging human life through organ transplants.
According to translations provided by interpreters, Xi said, "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 added, "With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, and people can live younger and younger, and even achieve immortality."
The remarks have drawn attention not only for their unusual subject matter but also for the symbolism of the parade itself, marking the first joint public appearance of the Chinese, Russian, and North Korean leaders. Analysts see the display as a direct message to Western nations that have sought to isolate them.
Rivals for centuries, Russia and China have grown closer, forming a de facto alliance driven by shared opposition to US dominance. Personal rapport between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, plus mutual strategic interests, underpin their cooperation, which continues to concern democratic nations.
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