Reuters News withdrew a four-minute video featuring a candid conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, captured during a military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The exchange, picked up by a live microphone, centered on organ transplants and the potential for humans to live to 150 years old. The footage, originally licensed from China Central Television (CCTV), was edited by Reuters and distributed to over 1,000 global media clients, including major international news broadcasters.
In the video, Putin, through his interpreter, remarked on biotechnology advancements, suggesting that continuous organ transplants could lead to people becoming "younger as they grow older" and potentially achieving immortality.
Xi responded by noting predictions that humans might live to 150 years old within this century. The conversation took place as they walked alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toward Tiananmen Square.
Reuters promptly removed the video from its website, issued a "kill" order to its clients to stop further distribution, and stated that it withdrew the content due to the loss of legal permission to publish the copyrighted material.
Other news agencies that licensed the footage from CCTV also distributed their own edits of the exchange.
Neither CCTV, its global arm China Global Television Network, nor the Chinese embassy in Washington immediately responded to requests for comment. The video had already been widely shared on social media and by global broadcasters before its withdrawal, sparking significant interest due to the unusually open nature of the leaders’ discussion on longevity and biotechnology.