He was appointed president of the Xinhua News Agency in December 2014, succeeding Li Congjun, who had retired.

[1] Cai formerly served as deputy director of the State Council Information Office from 2001 to 2009, editor-in-chief of the People's Daily from September 2012 to April 2013, and director of the State Council Information Office from April 2013 to December 2014.

[citation needed] He joined the People's Liberation Army in 1970, and the Chinese Communist Party in 1974.

[2] On November 11, 2020, he was appointed deputy director of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

[4] Cai served as a member of the 18th and 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.