Fan Younian became a member of the Chinese Communist Party in December 1965. He graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1967.[3][1] From 1967 to 1984, he held various positions, including technician in the hull workshop at Tianjin Xingang Shipyard, deputy director of the process institute, director of the electronic computer section, head of the planning and operation department at Tianjin Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (TSPIC, Chinese:天津船舶工业公司), and deputy secretary of the party committee at Xingang Shipyard.[4][5]
From 1984 to 1998, he served as deputy director and director of the planning department at the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC),[6] director of the comprehensive planning bureau, and chief representative of the ship trading company in the United States.[7] From 1998 to 2001, he held the positions of director of the International Cooperation Department of the Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, director of the Comprehensive Planning Department, and chairman of the supervisory board of State-owned Key and Large Enterprises (Chinese:国有重点大型企业监事会).[8][9][10]
Fan died on July 11, 2024, in Beijing at the age of 80 due to illness.[11]