[citation needed] From 1966 to 1972, Chen worked as Staff member of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
Chen went back to China and continue working in the Department of International Organizations and Conferences.
Chen was promoted as Division Chief, Counselor and then Deputy Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences from 1985 to 1992.
[1] He served Director General of the Information Department and spokesman of the MFA from 1994 t o1996, and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 1998.
[2] On 21 August 2001, Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Chen as Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services.