Chen was born in Funing, Jiangsu, in October 1958. He studied Chinese language at Nanjing Normal University from February 1977 to February 1980. After graduation, he worked as a teacher at the Funing County Teachers’ Training School. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in January 1977 and began his professional career in February 1980.[3] In 1982, Chen was assigned to the Publicity Department of the Funing County CCP Committee and, in 1984, became Secretary of the Communist Youth League in Funing County. He subsequently studied at the Jiangsu Provincial Party School from 1984 to 1986. Afterward, he served as CCP Secretary of Wutan Township in Funing County and then as Deputy County Head of Funing from 1990 to 1993. Between 1993 and 1995, he was a member of the Funing County Committee and served as Executive Deputy County Head.[3][1]
Chen advanced to municipal leadership as Deputy Secretary and District Head of the Suburban District of Yancheng from 1995 to 1996, and Deputy Secretary and County Head of Yandu County from 1996 to 1998. He was appointed Vice Mayor of Yancheng from 1998 to 2000 and Deputy Secretary and Acting Mayor of Lianyungang in 2000, becoming Mayor in 2001. From December 2001 to June 2005, he served as Communist Party Secretary of Lianyungang.[4]
From June 2005 to July 2009, Chen was Director and Party Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Labor and Social Security, completing further in-service studies in regional economics at the Jiangsu Party School.[5] He then served as Director and Party Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Economic and Information Commission from 2009 to 2012, and as Director and Party Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Development and Reform Commission from 2012 to 2016.[6] In December 2016, he was appointed Vice Governor and Party Committee Member of the Jiangsu Provincial Government.[7] Since January 2018, he has served as Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress and Deputy Secretary of its Party Committee.[8][9]
Chen has also been a representative to the 16th and 18th National Congresses of the Chinese Communist Party, a delegate to the 11th and 13th National People's Congresses, and a member of the 12th and 13th Jiangsu Provincial People's Congresses.[10][11]