Cheng Siwei, Han nationality, is a native of Danyang, Jiangsu Province. He was born in 1950 and graduated from junior high school in Shanghai in 1966. Following the Cultural Revolution, Chen studied in the Agricultural Economics Department at Renmin University of China.

Chen joined the institute of agricultural economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 1982. He served concurrently as deputy director of the State Rural Study and Survey Group. Chen was later deputy director of the State Rural Study and Survey Center of the State Council and then served as the center's director.

"I support the World League in its fight against drug addiction and I hope that you will achieve success in your goals".