Cai Qi takes control of China’s elite Communist Party school

By assuming the presidency of the Central Party School, Cai Qi has consolidated his role as the primary architect of China’s ideological and administrative machinery. The appointment reinforces his status as President Xi Jinping’s most influential confidant, placing the party’s doctrinal training directly under the oversight of his de facto chief of staff.

Editorial·June 18, 2026·reads: 239

Cai Qi takes control of China’s elite Communist Party school

The 70-year-old leader replaces Chen Xi, 72, at the helm of the National Academy of Governance, a role confirmed by the human resources ministry on Thursday. This transition mirrors the career paths of previous leaders, including Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao, who utilized the academy as a stepping stone to the pinnacle of power. By managing both the party's General Office and its central training institution, Cai now oversees a rare alignment of organizational and ideological authority within the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee.

Cai’s rise tracks a decades-long relationship with Xi, rooted in their shared history in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. His influence has grown steadily since his 2017 entry into the Politburo, culminating in his 2022 appointment to the Standing Committee. The academy, which has operated as a unified institution with the Central Party School since 2018, serves as the critical venue for shaping the next generation of Chinese officials, effectively cementing Cai’s role as the guardian of the party's political orthodoxy.