PM Modi’s Meeting with Cai Qi Sends Strong Signal to Anti-India Voices in China.
Cai Qi, the man who rarely smiles and one of President Xi Jinping’s closest aides, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, marking a significant diplomatic moment. Xi personally tasked Cai to engage with Modi, signaling a serious intent to normalize India-China ties.
Cai, a top-ranking official in the CPC and member of the Politburo Standing Committee, spent over 45 minutes with Modi discussing bilateral relations. The rare sight of Cai smiling during the meeting highlighted the unusual warmth of this engagement. Reports suggest Cai even joked about arranging lunch for Modi, only to be reminded that the Indian PM “is not into eating.”
While no classified matters were discussed, the meeting sends a clear message to anti-India elements in China, given Cai’s influence and proximity to Xi. His involvement underscores that Beijing is serious about moving the relationship forward.
India is pursuing a step-by-step normalization of ties with China, independent of China’s closeness with Pakistan. Key priorities include restoring relations to pre-May 2020 levels, maintaining a stable border, and cooperating on global and multilateral issues such as terrorism, climate change, and fair trade.
The SCO summit also laid the groundwork for apex-level military dialogue between commanders to address border issues efficiently and demarcate non-contentious areas. The bilateral interactions with Xi and Cai fuel hope for stable, constructive ties between two nations that were military rivals just five years ago.
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