Founded in Shanghai in December 1945, its original members were mainly intellectuals in the fields of culture, education and publishing who resided in Shanghai during the period of the War of Resistance Against Japan. Its aim is "to carry out the democratic spirit and push forward the realization of democratic politics in China."
Its members are mainly intellectuals working in the fields of education, culture, science and publishing. It currently has 65,000 members.
The successive chairpersons of the Central Committee of China Association for Promoting Democracy are Ma Xulun, Zhou Jianren, Ye Shengtao and Lei Jieqiong. Its present chairman is Xu Jialu.
