[citation needed] In 1981, Chen started to work for the government as the Director of Qiqihar City Economic Planning Committee.

In 1983, he became the mayor of Qiqihar and in 1984, he was appointed Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary and Director of Commission for Restructuring the Economy of Heilongjiang Province.

In 2008, due to the resumption of talks with Taiwan following the election of Ma Ying-jeou, Chen Yun-lin became the second head of ARATS.

[citation needed] Though nominally a private body, ARATS is directly led by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

[citation needed] On November 4, 2008, Chen met with his Taiwanese counterpart at the Second Chen-Chiang summit.