PM Modi’s Meeting with Cai Sends Strong Message to China’s Anti-India Forces

PM Modi’s Meeting with Cai Qi Sends Signal to Anti-India Elements in China.

In the Chinese Communist Party, Cai Qi—known as the man who rarely smiles—is one of President Xi Jinping’s closest aides and a key figure in Beijing’s power circles. Yet, during the SCO summit in Tianjin, Xi personally tasked Cai to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering a significant diplomatic signal.

Cai, who holds multiple senior positions in the CPC and is widely feared in Beijing, spent over 45 minutes with PM Modi, discussing ways to normalize ties between India and China. Remarkably, Cai smiled during the meeting—a rare sight for the right-hand man of the Chinese leader.

Before the dialogue, Cai reportedly joked about arranging lunch for Modi, only to be reminded that the Indian PM “is not into eating.” During the summit, Cai did not meet any other visiting leader openly, making his engagement with Modi all the more notable.

While no classified matters were discussed, the meeting sends a strong message to anti-India voices in China, given Cai’s influence and proximity to Xi. His involvement signals that bilateral relations are moving toward normalization.

India is cautiously stepping forward to rebuild ties with China, independent of China’s close relationship with Pakistan. The focus is on gradually restoring pre-May 2020 relations, with a stable and peaceful border at the center of cooperation.

This approach also opens avenues for India and China to converge on multilateral issues such as terrorism, climate change, and fair trade. In addition, the initiation of apex-level military dialogue between commanders aims to address border concerns efficiently and demarcate non-contentious areas.

The bilateral meetings with President Xi and Cai Qi during the SCO summit highlight India’s strategy of careful engagement and provide hope for stable, constructive ties between two nations that were military rivals just five years ago.