Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 45-minute meeting with Cai Qi at the SCO Summit wasn’t just another official pleasantry—it marked a strategic shift. By engaging with the ‘right-hand man’ of Xi, Modi and Beijing signaled their serious intent to move beyond rhetoric and toward execution. In doing so, they also sent a strong message to skeptics in China that normalization of ties is underway.
Cai’s position—including his control over policy dissemination and implementation—makes him a more vital interlocutor than ceremonial figures. His meeting with Modi, right after Xi’s handshake-style diplomacy, adds depth and substance to the resetting of relations.
As India navigates a shifting global alignment—especially in light of recent tensions with the U.S.—this engagement reflects a message of independence and pragmatism. India is entering a phase where diplomacy with China seeks institutional follow-through and real results.
The path ahead involves tangible cooperation on trade, travel, cultural engagement, and border peace. And while long-standing borders and mutual mistrust demand cautious optimism, the Modi–Cai meeting offers a hopeful precedent for rebuilding a more stable, transactional, and respectful bilateral relationship.
