Tian joined the Foreign Service in 1970 and has served primarily in the Eastern Europe Division.
He served as the Chinese Ambassador to Czechoslovakia [zh] from April 1984 through March 1985.
He was director of the Eastern Europe Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985, and held that office until 1986.
He served as the Chinese Ambassador to Yugoslavia from June 1986 until April 1988, when he was succeeded by Ma Xusheng [zh].
He also served as a member of the Drafting Committee of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region since June 1990.