Top Chinese official Cai Qi arrives for BRICS Summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is attending the upcoming BRICS Summit in India with his closest political confidant in tow. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Communist Party standing committee member Cai Qi are part of the high-level delegation arriving in New Delhi. This marks the first Indian visit for the 70-year-old Cai, widely recognised as the second-most powerful figure in Beijing. His inclusion signals clear diplomatic intent as both nations look to stabilise relations following years of serious border disputes in the Himalayas.
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Prior to his current status, Cai experienced an unusually fast promotion track within the Chinese government. He joined the ruling Politburo in 2017 after serving merely months as the mayor and party chief of Beijing, bypassing the traditional five-year waiting period on the Central Committee. By 2022, he secured a seat on the elite seven-member Politburo Standing Committee.
Earlier this year, he assumed control of the central ideology school, an academy responsible for training upcoming officials. Furthermore, he directs the party’s General Office, functioning effectively as chief of staff for the president. This concentration of authority makes him a distinctly influential operator in modern Chinese politics.
Deep political roots with President Xi
Both men share similar origins, beginning their careers as worker-peasant-soldier students during the turbulent Cultural Revolution. They subsequently spent over two decades working together across Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, building a deep professional bond.
Also Read: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in India after seven years for Crucial BRICS Summit and Bilateral Talks
While Beijing normally keeps its inner workings private, Cai has stepped into the global spotlight recently. He shook hands with US President Donald Trump during an earlier visit to China and attended the 2025 meeting in South Korea. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin last year. Kerry Brown from London’s King’s College describes him as a highly strategic and calculating figure shaping future state policy.
