As Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to visit New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, attention is also turning to one of the most influential officials expected to accompany him: Cai Qi.

A member of China’s seven-person Politburo Standing Committee, Cai Qi occupies the fifth position in the country’s leadership hierarchy. He is also director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, a powerful post that puts him at the center of the party leadership’s day-to-day coordination.

Xi is scheduled to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, marking his first visit to India in seven years. China has officially confirmed the trip, and Beijing and New Delhi are also arranging a bilateral meeting between Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Who is Cai Qi?

Born in 1955, Cai Qi is a veteran Chinese Communist Party official whose political career took him through several provincial and municipal positions before he rose into the country’s top leadership.

He became a member of the 25-member Politburo in 2017 and entered the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee in 2022. His rise accelerated under Xi, with the two having political links dating back to their earlier careers in Fujian and Zhejiang.

Cai’s current portfolio gives him influence over some of the most sensitive administrative and organisational functions of the Communist Party.

Why is Cai Qi called Xi Jinping’s “right-hand man”?

The description comes largely from Cai’s extraordinary proximity to Xi and his role in the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

The General Office acts as a central coordination hub for the party leadership. Its responsibilities include organising senior-level meetings, managing information and administrative work, and coordinating the implementation of decisions made by the top leadership.

For that reason, Reuters has described Cai as Xi’s “de facto chief of staff.” His position means he operates unusually close to the president and has a key role in translating top-level decisions into the machinery of the party.

Cai has also accompanied Xi on major domestic and international engagements, reinforcing his image as one of the president’s closest political allies.

Cai’s power grew further in 2026

Cai’s influence expanded again this year when he was appointed head of the Communist Party’s Central Party School and president of the National Academy of Governance.

The Central Party School plays an important role in training senior Communist Party officials and shaping political and ideological instruction. By taking charge of that institution while retaining his other major posts, Cai brought together significant administrative, organisational and ideological responsibilities.

Analysts cited by Reuters said the appointment further cemented his position as one of Xi’s most important allies.

What is Cai Qi’s role in Xi’s India visit?

Cai’s reported presence in the Chinese delegation is significant because the BRICS summit is taking place at a sensitive moment in India-China relations.

Xi’s visit comes after several years of military and diplomatic tension following the deadly 2020 border clash. Relations have since shown signs of improvement, but disagreements over the border, trade, investment and security remain.

With Cai travelling alongside Xi, Beijing is bringing one of the party’s most senior coordination divs into a summit where China-India engagement will be closely watched.

Why is Xi’s India visit important?

Xi’s attendance itself carries considerable diplomatic weight.

China’s foreign ministry confirmed that he will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 at Modi’s invitation. It will be his first trip to India since 2019.

On September 11, China’s foreign ministry also said Beijing and New Delhi were arranging a meeting between Xi and Modi. Reuters reported that the two sides are seeking to strengthen communication and cooperation while managing their differences.

The meeting could therefore become an important test of how far the recent diplomatic thaw can go.

What could Cai’s presence mean for India-China ties?

Cai Qi is not India’s counterpart in a conventional foreign-policy sense, but his importance lies in his access to the very center of China’s political decision-making.

His presence allows Xi to travel with a trusted senior official who is deeply involved in party coordination and administration.

That could matter during discussions where political signals need to be carried back to Beijing and converted into action within China’s broader state and party system.

At the same time, expectations should be kept realistic. Cai’s presence does not by itself signal a breakthrough in India-China relations. The relationship still faces unresolved border issues, economic restrictions and a significant trust deficit.

Xi, Modi and the bigger BRICS picture

The BRICS summit gives India and China a platform that is broader than their bilateral relationship.

India is hosting the expanded grouping amid major geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in the Middle East and disagreements among BRICS members over foreign-policy issues. Reuters reported that the summit is also expected to focus on strengthening the bloc’s role in global governance and economic cooperation.

For Xi, the visit is therefore a diplomatic balancing act: strengthen China’s ties with India, protect Beijing’s interests within BRICS and demonstrate that the two Asian powers can manage their rivalry without allowing tensions to overwhelm broader cooperation.

For India, the challenge is equally delicate. New Delhi wants improved relations with Beijing while maintaining its strategic partnerships with the United States and other countries.

Against that backdrop, Cai Qi’s arrival in India matters not because he is simply another senior Chinese official, but because he is one of the people closest to the center of power in Beijing.