The CDNCA is one of the democratic parties on the patriotic united front led by the CPC. It comprises people from industrial and commercial businesses as well as related intellectuals. It was founded in Chongqing on December 16, 1945.

In 1949 the CDNCA attended the First Plenary Session of the CPPCC in Beijing and participated in drawing up the Common Program.

After the founding of New China, the CDNCA played an important role in achieving the socialist transformation of capitalist industrial and commercial businesses. It has made an important contribution to the state political life and economic construction, especially to industrial and commercial management, foreign technical exchanges and liaison.