Reuters withdrew video of Putin and Xi Jinping after complaints from China

The Reuters agency withdrew a video of a conversation between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping after Chinese state television CCTV revoked the legal permission for its use. This was reported by 'Glavkom'.

The four-minute clip contained footage from an open microphone during a military parade in Beijing, where the leaders discussed the possibility of people living to 150 years. The material was licensed by CCTV and distributed by Reuters to more than a thousand clients worldwide.

After the request from the Chinese side, Reuters removed the video from its website and urged partners to 'destroy' copies. CCTV stated in a letter that the agency exceeded the terms of the license and distorted the material during editing.

Reuters noted that it reviewed the published footage and sees no violations of its journalistic policy.

During the military parade, journalists recorded a conversation among leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea about lifespan. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un discussed the possibilities of longevity. The Chinese president remarked that people could live longer, reaching 70 years sooner. Putin, in turn, expressed the belief that due to advances in biotechnology, people would be able to live longer and longer, possibly even achieve immortality.