Who Is Cai Qi, Xi Jinping’s 'Right-Hand Man' Coming to India for the BRICS Summit?

As Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, diplomatic circles are abuzz over the rare presence of his most trusted confidant and de facto chief of staff, Cai Qi. Ranking fifth on the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, Cai seldom travels abroad, fueling intense speculation over Beijing’s calculated objectives.

Analysts suggest Cai’s inclusion signals that Beijing views the New Delhi summit through an acute national security lens rather than routine multilateral diplomacy. As a key operator on China’s secretive National Security Commission and Xi’s gatekeeper for over two decades, Cai carries unmatched authority. Observers speculate that his presence facilitates real-time, high-level sign-offs on sensitive border stabilization measures and economic normalization talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bypassing standard bureaucratic layers. Acting as Xi’s strategic enforcer, Cai is positioned to tightly steer bilateral engagement before China assumes the rotating BRICS chair.