He served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Metallurgy Industry, Minister of the Ministry of Materials, Executive Vice Director of the State Planning Commission, and Director of the State Economic Commission.

[2][3] When Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China in 1937, Yuan returned to his hometown to organize anti-Japanese resistance.

[4] Yuan was later transferred to the central government in Beijing to serve as a bureau chief in the Ministry of Heavy Industry.

He was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Metallurgy Industry, Minister of the Ministry of Materials, Executive Vice Director of the State Planning Commission, and Director of the State Economic Commission.

At the 13th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in 1987, he was elected a member of the Second Central Advisory Commission.