Cai Qi gives first work report as Beijing’s acting mayor and is seen by analysts as a front runner to join Politburo in major government reshuffle One of China’s rising political stars and an ally of President Xi Jinping made a rare appearance in the public spotlight yesterday, giving his first work report as Beijing’s mayor. Cai Qi was made the capital’s acting mayor last October and political analysts have made him a front runner to take a post in the Politburo in a government reshuffle in the autumn.