Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping were caught on a hot microphone discussing organ transplants and immortality during a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday. The exchange happened as the two leaders walked alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Chinese capital.
The conversation was captured on a live broadcast by Chinese state television CCTV as the leaders moved toward the viewing platform at Tiananmen Square. Accoridng to Reuters, Putin’s interpreter could be heard saying in Chinese that “biotechnology is continuously developing” and that “human organs can be continuously transplanted.” The interpreter added that “the longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality.”
However, Dr. James Markmann, President of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons Executive Council, has dismissed these claims as lacking scientific foundation. “Transplantation of vital organs is a lifesaving and life-prolonging procedure for patients with organ failure,” Markmann told Fox News Digital. “But there is no scientific evidence that it promotes immortality, nor that humans could realistically reach 150 years of age through transplants.”
Putin’s long-standing interest in anti-aging research
Putin has shown significant interest in longevity research throughout his presidency. In 2024, he ordered the creation of a state-backed research institute called New Health Preservation Technologies, which focuses on cellular rejuvenation, neurotechnology and organ regeneration. The project aims to “save 175,000 lives” by 2030 and has received approximately $2.6 billion in funding.
The Russian leader’s daughter, endocrinologist Maria Vorontsova, has also received state grants for cell renewal and genetics research. According to investigative reports, Putin has been pushing scientists to develop anti-aging treatments with increasing urgency, with researchers being asked to fast-track their proposals.
You know the healthspan-only narrative is dead when Putin is talking about immortality. pic.twitter.com/8KlYm9pBMv
— Adam Gries (@adamgries) September 3, 2025
China has also invested heavily in aging research, though Xi has been less directly linked to longevity projects compared to Putin. In 2016, the Chinese government launched the Major Program on Organ Aging and Degeneration, an initiative focused on studying cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging. The state-funded Chinese Academy of Sciences has published studies on reversing aging in primates, including recent research on senescence-resistant mesenchymal progenitor cells that showed promise in elderly macaque testing.
Dr. Markmann emphasized that the real focus should be on current medical needs rather than speculative longevity research. “I won’t comment on the private musings of world leaders, but we must remember that more than 100,000 individuals in the United States are currently awaiting lifesaving organ transplants,” he concluded. “The ethical concern isn’t immortality but equity, access, and making sure organs save lives today.” The conversation has sparked broader discussions about the role of political leaders in promoting unsubstantiated medical claims while real medical challenges persist.
