High-level representatives from nearly 60 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, along with approximately 20 international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), will gather in Hong Kong this Friday (May 30) for the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed).
Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will attend the ceremony.
Experts point out that as major power relations undergo significant changes and international relations become increasingly multipolar, traditional global governance mechanisms are imbalanced. Faced with growing conflicts and disputes, the establishment of the IOMed will provide a new platform for world peace and development, exploring a fresh approach focused on facilitating dialogue and reconciliation to resolve international disputes.
"The IOMed aims to resolve disputes through mediation, becoming the world's first intergovernmental legal body dedicated to solving international conflicts through mediation. It is an important mechanism for upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning recently.
Since 2022, over a dozen countries, including China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, Serbia, Belarus, Sudan, Algeria, and Djibouti, have signed or supported a joint statement on the establishment of the IOMed, jointly initiating its creation. Through collective efforts, negotiations on the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed have been completed, with unanimous agreement to base its headquarters in Hong Kong, China.
Creating an International Mechanism Not Dominated by the U.S.
Professor Wu Xinbo, Dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, told Wen Wei Po that since World War II, many similar international institutions have been dominated by the West, particularly the United States. China's push to establish the IOMed reflects both growing doubts about the credibility and fairness of Western-led mechanisms and signals China's increasing role in creating new international frameworks. China will lead these new mechanisms to better serve the international community, especially Global South countries, building an international system independent of Western dominance and not controlled by the U.S.
Providing More Flexible and Efficient Pathways for Dispute Resolution
Wang Yong, Director of the Center for International Political Economy at Peking University, noted that as international relations grow more multipolar, traditional global governance mechanisms have become unbalanced. Meanwhile, regional conflicts, disputes, wars, and crises—such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Palestine conflict—are proliferating, with existing international mechanisms failing to effectively prevent these crises.
Against this backdrop, China's proposal for the IOMed meets the international community's demand for peace and development, offering more flexible, economical, and efficient methods to resolve disputes, conflicts, and wars. This initiative fosters international reconciliation while embodying China's traditional values of harmony and its vision of a "community with a shared future for mankind."
"China is the advocate, but the IOMed is an open and inclusive entity serving the needs of international peace, development, and security," Wang said. He believes the organization will play a significant role in resolving disputes and crises under new circumstances, gaining broader recognition and attracting more countries to submit their conflicts for mediation. He added that China's diplomatic practices, member states, and the accumulated experience of organizations like the UN, African Union, and ASEAN can inform the organization's future work.
New Path Focused on Dialogue and Reconciliation
Lü Xiang, an expert on U.S. affairs, said that while many Asian, African, and Latin American countries have joined binding treaty mechanisms, their interests often go unprotected in international disputes.
"The IOMed's mission is to foster consensus and resolve differences at the lowest cost, making it more efficient than adversarial judicial or arbitration processes. The enthusiasm of Global South countries for this new dispute-resolution mechanism underscores its value," he said.
Lü emphasized that as a key founding member, China does not seek to overturn existing dispute-resolution mechanisms or prevent countries from pursuing claims under current treaties. Instead, it aims to provide a new platform for peace and development, exploring a path centered on dialogue and reconciliation.
Hong Kong's Role and Prospect
Nicholas Chan, a Hong Kong deputy of the National People's Congress (NPC) and legal expert, stated that as the world's first intergovernmental legal body specializing in mediation for international disputes, the IOMed reflects the growing global emphasis on non-confrontational, flexible, and cost-effective conflict resolution.
"Mediation not only promotes rational dialogue but also effectively reduces the risk of conflict. I firmly believe this approach will play an increasingly vital role in future international relations," he said.
He added that hosting the organization would bring long-term economic benefits to Hong Kong, creating job opportunities in mediation-related fields and boosting sectors like conferences, hospitality, tourism, transportation, and dining, thereby invigorating the local economy.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Ma Jing; English Editor: Darius)
Related News:
Budget 2025-26 | Enhancing HK's global appeal: New measures to attract enterprises and organizations
Comment