Cai Qi, Xi’s chief of staff, takes helm of elite Central Party School
The fifth-ranking leader now controls training of China’s future top cadres.
Cai Qi, a long-time ally of President Xi Jinping, has been appointed to lead the Central Party School, the Communist Party’s premier institution for training senior cadres. The 70-year-old currently ranks fifth on the Politburo Standing Committee, the party’s top decision-making body, and serves as secretary of the party secretariat and director of the general office—roles that make him Xi’s de facto chief of staff. The appointment was confirmed by state broadcaster CCTV’s coverage of a graduation ceremony, officially linking Cai to the school’s leadership.
Cai’s relationship with Xi spans decades, beginning in Fujian province in the 1980s and continuing in Zhejiang province in the 2000s. His new post places him at the center of cadre selection and ideological education, giving him significant influence over the next generation of party leaders. This move reinforces Xi’s consolidation of power by placing a trusted aide in a position that shapes the party’s future leadership pipeline.
- Cai Qi, 70, is the fifth-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Xi Jinping’s closest aide.
- His appointment as Central Party School head gives him direct oversight of training and selecting top cadres.
- Cai has worked with Xi for over 30 years, starting in Fujian in the 1980s.
Why It Matters
This appointment tightens Xi’s control over China’s future leadership pipeline, shaping policy direction for decades.