A major step in China’s multilateral diplomacy was taken on May 30, 2025, with the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the event and delivered a speech. Around 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, as well as nearly 20 international organisations, attended the event. Among them, 33 countries signed the Convention on site, becoming the founding members.
Wang Yi said that the UN Charter, in its preamble, states a clear purpose of different countries living together in peace and maintaining international peace and security. China always advocates addressing disagreements in a spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation, building consensus through dialogue and consultation, promoting development through win-win cooperation, and solving issues with a future-oriented perspective. China has been actively exploring ways of hotspot issue settlement that carry the Chinese touch. Three years ago, China and like-minded countries jointly initiated the establishment of the IOMed. Through diligent efforts, they have finally concluded the Convention and received extensive support and positive responses from the international community. An innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations.
The establishment of the IOMed is an example of a civilisational belief in harmony. It can help transcend the “you-lose-I-win” zero-sum mentality, promote the amicable resolution of international disputes, and foster more harmonious international relations.
Wang Yi stated that China looks forward to signatories’ early ratification of the Convention and welcomes the active participation of more countries. He called on signatories to uphold fairness, justice and equity, stress the true spirit of the rule of law, ensure both procedural justice and outcome justice, enhance the participation of developing countries, and improve the representation and say of the Global South in international governance.
He said that as decided through consultation among countries participating in the negotiation of the Convention, the IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, whose handover is itself a success story of peaceful settlement of international disputes. What’s more, the city enjoys exceptional advantages in international mediation, for example, its affinity to the motherland and connection to the world, and its strength in both common law and civil law.
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amon Murwira, Attorney General of Nicaragua Wendy Carolina Morales Urbina, Serbian Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Li Junhua also spoke.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee delivered a speech to welcome the establishment of the world’s first intergovernmental international organisation dedicated to mediation in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will leverage the institutional strengths of “One Country, Two Systems” and fully support the work of the IOMed.
Following the signing ceremony, the Global Forum on International Mediation was convened.
In his keynote address, Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, emphasised the principle of peaceful dispute resolution under international law, calling mediation a forward-looking and constructive approach compared to traditional litigation and arbitration.
Lam underscored the selection of Hong Kong as the court’s headquarters as a testament to its legal infrastructure, citing Hong Kong’s pool of cross-jurisdictional legal talent and track record in international dispute resolution. Hong Kong’s common law system and reputation for efficiency position it as a global hub for legal services, he said, adding that it would leverage this role to expand mediation services and attract more member states.
A Xinhua commentary noted: “From brokering the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran to facilitating unity among Palestinian factions, China has consistently transformed the wisdom of harmony into successful cases of dispute resolution. The birth of the IOMed is yet another example of the value and relevance of China’s harmony-centered approach in the contemporary world.
“In today’s globalised world, the future of humanity is closely intertwined. When disputes are resolved through mediation and mutual accommodation, swords can be turned into plowshares, while high walls can be knocked down to make way for smooth paths. It is hoped that the international community will work together to enable the IOMed to play a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes, thereby contributing to a brighter future for humanity.” [The concept of turning swords into plowshares as a metaphor for peace is derived from the Bible: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah 2:4 – King James version]
An interesting editorial published in the Morning Star noted:
“The choice to situate it in Hong Kong is a smart move, for it is in this former British colonial possession that the dictatorship of the proletariat is exercised in a mixed economy in which certain capitalist relations of production and capitalist forms of ownership are evident. Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s gentle boast that Hong Kong’s rule of law was highly developed, with the advantages of both common law and mainland Chinese law systems is an oblique way of saying that China is well positioned to champion the peaceful resolution of inter-state differences. The significant feature of this welcome initiative is the widespread support it enjoys from the Global South.
“For the working-class movement in Britain, any move to lessen international tensions is welcome. We can but contrast Wang’s constructive approach with Keir Starmer’s enthusiastic rush to spend billions in the EU’s war preparations and his unceasing efforts to prolong the conflict in Ukraine.”
The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and by the Xinhua News Agency and the Morning Star.
The Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation Successfully Held in Hong Kong
May 30 (MFA) — On May 30, 2025, the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was held in Hong Kong. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the event and delivered remarks. Around 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, as well as nearly 20 international organizations, attended the event. Among them, 33 countries signed the Convention on site, becoming the founding members.
Wang Yi said that the U.N. Charter, in its preamble, states a clear purpose of different countries living together in peace and maintaining international peace and security. China always advocates addressing disagreements in a spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation, building consensus through dialogue and consultation, promoting development through win-win cooperation, and solving issues with a future-oriented perspective. China has been actively exploring ways of hotspot issue settlement that carry the Chinese touch. Three years ago, China and like-minded countries jointly initiated the establishment of the IOMed. Through diligent efforts, they have finally concluded the Convention, and received extensive support and positive responses from the international community. An innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations.
The establishment of the IOMed is an actualization of the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. It will fill an institutional gap in international mediation and serve as an important public good in the field of the rule of law for better global governance.
The establishment of the IOMed is an example of a civilizational belief in harmony. It can help transcend the “you-lose-I-win” zero-sum mentality, promote the amicable resolution of international disputes, and foster more harmonious international relations.
The establishment of the IOMed is an epitome of inclusiveness in the culture of the rule of law. It respects the wishes of parties concerned, and draws upon the strengths of being more flexible, cost-effective, convenient and efficient. And it will complement and form synergies with litigation, arbitration and other existing international dispute settlement mechanisms.
Wang Yi stated that China looks forward to signatories’ early ratification of the Convention and welcomes the active participation of more countries.
He called on signatories to honor the purposes of the U.N. Charter, ensure voluntary participation, equal decision-making and common interests, and see to it that all parties’ legitimate concerns are respected and win-win outcomes achieved.
He called on signatories to promote reconciliation, cooperation and harmony, cultivate a culture and raise the awareness of mediation, and put in place at an early date a set of world-class mediation rules and mechanisms featuring autonomy, flexibility, pragmatism and high efficiency.
He called on signatories to uphold fairness, justice and equity, stress the true spirit of the rule of law, ensure both procedural justice and outcome justice, enhance the participation of developing countries, and improve the representation and say of the Global South in international governance.
He called on signatories to advocate extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, make solid progress in the structure of the IOMed, and make the IOMed globally-oriented and dedicated to serving the world.
Wang Yi said that as decided through consultation among countries participating in the negotiation of the Convention, the IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, whose handover is itself a success story of peaceful settlement of international disputes. What’s more, the city enjoys exceptional advantages in international mediation, for example, its affinity to the motherland and connection to the world, and its strength in both common law and civil law. Wang Yi expressed the belief that the IOMed will grow stronger with Hong Kong. The rising star in international rule of law and the Oriental Pearl will shine brightly together.
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amon Murwira, Attorney General of Nicaragua Wendy Carolina Morales Urbina, Serbian Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Li Junhua delivered remarks, respectively. All parties highly recognized the contemporary value and far-reaching significance of the IOMed, expressing that the establishment of the IOMed is timely, crucial, and of historic significance in the current world with increasing conflicts and intensifying divisions. The IOMed aligns with the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and embodies respect, mutual trust, fairness, and harmony. It serves as an effective measure to strengthen multilateralism, and will become a key pillar in improving global governance, and a new milestone in advancing the rule of law worldwide. They called on more countries to sign and ratify the Convention, and to jointly achieve lasting peace and sustainable development through mediation. All parties commended China’s active role as a major country, and the IOMed is expected to contribute to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the promotion of friendly cooperation among nations.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee delivered a speech to welcome the establishment of the world’s first intergovernmental international organization dedicated to mediation in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will leverage the institutional strengths of the “One Country, Two Systems” and fully support the work of the IOMed.
Reconciliation, Cooperation and Harmony Through Extensive Consultation, by Joint Contribution, for Shared Benefit—Jointly Writing a New Chapter on the Rule of Law In Global Governance
May 30 (MFA) — Remarks by H.E. Wang Yi
At the Signing Ceremony of the Convention
On the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,
The Honorable Chief Executive John KC Lee,
It is a great pleasure to join you in Hong Kong for the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). Just now, representatives of 32 countries signed the Convention, making these countries the founding members of the IOMed. High-level representatives of more than 50 other countries and nearly 20 international organizations are also present at the ceremony. On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to warmly welcome all guests and congratulate the founding members. You have come here from across the world for a common goal: promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes and advancing friendship and cooperation between countries.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The U.N. Charter, in its preamble, states a clear purpose of different countries living together in peace and maintaining international peace and security. Eighty years later, faced with accelerating global transformation not seen in a century, President Xi Jinping has pointed out that disagreements between countries are normal and should be properly settled through dialogue and consultation. China has all along advocated addressing disagreements in a spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation, building consensus through dialogue and consultation, promoting development through win-win cooperation, and solving issues with a future-oriented perspective. China has been actively exploring ways of hotspot issue settlement that carry the Chinese touch, so as to lend our thoughts to countries seeking to resolve problems or disagreements with others.
Three years ago, China and like-minded countries jointly initiated the establishment of the IOMed. Through diligent efforts, we have finally concluded the Convention, and received extensive support and positive responses from the international community. An innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations.
The establishment of the IOMed is an actualization of the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. Mediation, as is clearly stated in Article 33 of the Charter, is one of the first means that should be tried in seeking peaceful solutions to international disputes. But so far, there is not yet an intergovernmental legal organization in this field. The IOMed takes it as its mission to mediate disputes between states or between a state and foreign investors, and international commercial disputes based on the will of relevant parties. It will fill an institutional gap in international mediation and serve as an important public good in the field of the rule of law for better global governance.
The establishment of the IOMed is an example of a civilizational belief in harmony. Resolving conflicts through dialogue and mediating disputes through consultation is a common value and aspiration of all major civilizations in the world. The birth of the IOMed can help transcend the “you-lose-I-win” zero-sum mentality, promote the amicable resolution of international disputes, and foster more harmonious international relations.
The establishment of the IOMed is an epitome of inclusiveness in the culture of the rule of law. It incorporates the very best of major legal systems, respects the wishes of parties concerned, and draws upon the strengths of being more flexible, cost-effective, convenient and efficient. And it will complement and form synergies with litigation, arbitration and other existing international dispute settlement mechanisms.
Distinguished Guests,
As decided through consultation among countries participating in the negotiation of the Convention, the IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, whose handover is itself a success story of peaceful settlement of international disputes. The success of One Country, Two Systems has created brighter prospects for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. What’s more, the city enjoys exceptional advantages in international mediation, for example, its affinity to the motherland and connection to the world, its enabling business environment, its highly-developed legal system, and its strength in both common law and civil law. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for its strong support in preparing for the launch of the IOMed. I believe that the IOMed will grow stronger with Hong Kong. The rising star in international rule of law and the Oriental Pearl will shine brightly together.
Distinguished Guests,
The IOMed is a seedling that we have jointly planted today. To grow and thrive, this seedling needs the care and support of the international community. China looks forward to signatories’ early ratification of the Convention and welcomes the active participation of more countries.
Let us honor the purposes of the U.N. Charter, ensure voluntary participation, equal decision-making and common interests, and see to it that all parties’ legitimate concerns are respected and win-win outcomes achieved.
Let us promote reconciliation, cooperation and harmony, cultivate a culture and raise the awareness of mediation, and put in place at an early date a set of world-class mediation rules and mechanisms featuring autonomy, flexibility, pragmatism and high efficiency.
Let us uphold fairness, justice and equity, stress the true spirit of the rule of law, ensure both procedural justice and outcome justice, enhance the participation of developing countries, make international dispute settlement mechanisms fairer and beneficial to all, and improve the representation and say of the Global South in international governance.
Let us advocate extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, make solid progress in the structure of the IOMed, build a team of mediators that is highly professional and enjoys good international reputation, make the IOMed globally-oriented and dedicated to serving the world, and fulfill our mission and goals with unremitting efforts.
Distinguished Guests,
Let me tell you a Chinese historical folk story, “Liuchixiang” or “2-meter-wide alley.” Two neighbors unable to agree on the boundary between their houses, resorted to mediation and then brought their fences back by about one meter each, not only resolving their dispute successfully but also creating a 2-meter-wide alley for passersby. In today’s globalized world, the future of humanity is closely linked. When we resolve disputes through mediation and mutual accommodation, weapons of war can be replaced with gifts of jade and silk, and high walls can be knocked down to make way for smooth paths. I look forward to us all working together to let the IOMed play a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes for a brighter future for humanity.
Thank you.
Global Forum on Int’l Mediation held in Hong Kong to address state-to-state, commercial disputes
HONG KONG, May 30 (Xinhua) — The Global Forum on International Mediation was convened in Hong Kong on Friday, following the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) earlier.
The occasion gathered leaders of several signatory states of the Convention, heads of international organizations and multilateral institutions, experts in the field of international mediation, and other stakeholders, to delve into topics including state-to-state mediation as well as international investment and international commercial dispute mediation.
They applauded mediation’s dual focus on procedural and outcome fairness, describing it as a “win-win” alternative to adversarial legal processes. They also believed that the IOMed would fill a critical gap in global dispute-resolution mechanisms, enhancing both international governance and state-to-state collaboration.
In his keynote address, Paul Lam, secretary for justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, emphasized the principle of peaceful dispute resolution under international law, calling mediation a forward-looking and constructive approach compared to traditional litigation and arbitration.
Lam underscored the selection of Hong Kong as the court’s headquarters as a testament to its legal infrastructure, citing Hong Kong’s pool of cross-jurisdictional legal talent and track record in international dispute resolution. Hong Kong’s common law system and reputation for efficiency position it as a global hub for legal services, he said, adding that it would leverage this role to expand mediation services and attract more member states.
Indonesia’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno praised the convention’s timing, calling it a response to global demand for cooperative conflict resolution. He highlighted gaps in current international mechanisms and stressed the importance of a specialized body for strengthening the global legal framework. Oegroseno said Indonesia would actively participate in drafting the court’s rules and collaborate with the relevant parties to advance its mandate.
Edward Liu, the principal representative of the International Chamber of Shipping (China) Liaison Office and a partner at Haiwen & Partners LLP, described the court as a “Chinese solution” expands the focus on economic engagement to formal dispute resolution, saying that it embodies China’s philosophy of “harmony with diversity” and signals China’s commitment to global governance.
Noting Hong Kong’s unique status as a common law jurisdiction under “one country, two systems,” Liu said Hong Kong’s role as the court’s base aligns with its designation as an “Asia-Pacific international legal and dispute resolution center.”
The role as a “super-connector” and a “super value-adder” between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world positions Hong Kong to serve both national priorities and international needs, he said.
Xinhua Commentary: Resolving int’l disputes with a belief in harmony
BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) — The signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was held Friday in Hong Kong. The birth of the organization will fill an institutional gap in international mediation and serve as an important public good in the field of the rule of law for better global governance.
Amid accelerating multipolarity and economic globalization, closer interactions among nations are accompanied by rising disputes, which have intensified calls from the international community to improve mechanisms dedicated to international dispute settlement.
The establishment of the IOMed illustrates the shared aspirations of countries to pursue peace, promote stability and seek development. As an innovative step to promote a community with a shared future for mankind, the IOMed embodies the wisdom of harmony and will play a positive role in upholding international fairness and justice.
Mediation, as is clearly stated in the UN Charter, is one of the first means that should be tried in seeking peaceful solutions to international disputes. The creation of IOMed fulfills the goals and principles outlined in the UN Charter. It incorporates the very best of major legal systems, respects the wishes of parties concerned, and draws upon the strengths of being more flexible, cost-effective, convenient and efficient.
Meanwhile, the IOMed will form synergies with litigation, arbitration and other existing international dispute settlement mechanisms, which can help transcend the “you-lose-I-win” zero-sum mentality, fostering more harmonious international relations.
As the driving force behind the establishment of the IOMed, China has contributed both Chinese wisdom and practical expertise.
Mediation fully respects the will of the parties concerned, reflecting the Eastern tradition of valuing amity and harmony. In recent years, this unique tradition has demonstrated remarkable vitality on the international stage.
From brokering the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran to facilitating unity among Palestinian factions, China has consistently transformed the wisdom of harmony into successful cases of dispute resolution. The birth of the IOMed is yet another example of the value and relevance of China’s harmony-centered approach in the contemporary world.
Three years ago, China and like-minded countries jointly initiated the IOMed’s establishment. On Friday, about 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations attended the signing event. Among them, 33 countries signed the convention on-site, making them the founding members of the IOMed.
The broad support and positive response for establishing the IOMed reflect the strong aspiration of the international community, particularly developing countries, for peace, security, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. It also embodies the shared desire of the Global South to advance global governance in a more just and equitable direction.
In today’s globalized world, the future of humanity is closely intertwined. When disputes are resolved through mediation and mutual accommodation, swords can be turned into plowshares, while high walls can be knocked down to make way for smooth paths. It is hoped that the international community will work together to enable the IOMed to play a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes, thereby contributing to a brighter future for humanity.
From Hong Kong to the world: China’s peaceful resolution alternative
May 30 (Morning Star) — The bizarre convention, dominant in US media and political circles and increasingly prevalent here, is for every emanation of the government of the People’s Republic of China to be ascribed to the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Now it is absolutely true that the organisation of Chinese communists is present throughout Chinese society. Indeed, the Chinese constitution says: “The People’s Republic of China is a socialist state governed by a people’s democratic dictatorship that is led by the working class and based on an alliance of workers and peasants.”
It goes on to assert that the socialist system is the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China. “Leadership by the CPC is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Britain does not have bilateral relations with the CPC but with the Chinese state. For the slippery politician, our unwritten constitution has the advantage over the Chinese in that the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie and the centrality of capitalist relations of production are not asserted openly and instead are tied up in an impenetrable bundle of archaic laws, arcane conventions and unspoken assumptions.
Our politics are grounded in the convention — rigorously applied in the media and public life — that any manifestation of hostility between those who work for a living and those who live off of rent, interest and profit must be covered in a miasma of mystification.
In contrast, the Chinese frankly state: “In our country, the exploiting class, as a class, has been eliminated, but class struggle will continue to exist within a certain scope for a long time to come. The people of China must fight against those domestic and foreign forces and elements that are hostile to and undermine our country’s socialist system.”
There is an interesting theoretical discussion to be had about the way in which class struggle expresses itself in Chinese society, and it is clear that there are divergent views on the question, including within the CPC, and it is evident that practical expressions of class contradictions are not an uncommon phenomenon.
The problem for apologists for the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, for practical purposes every party leader from Kemi Badenoch to Keir Starmer, is that on the international stage, the Chinese state is increasingly seen as a benign actor committed to harmonious inter-state relations and a practical advocate of a peaceful resolution of international conflicts.
Yesterday, dozens of states joined with China to set up a mediation-based international dispute resolution forum.
The choice to situate it in Hong Kong is a smart move, for it is in this former British colonial possession that the dictatorship of the proletariat is exercised in a mixed economy in which certain capitalist relations of production and capitalist forms of ownership are evident.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s gentle boast that Hong Kong’s rule of law was highly developed, with the advantages of both common law and mainland Chinese law systems is an oblique way of saying that China is well positioned to champion the peaceful resolution of inter-state differences.
The significant feature of this welcome initiative is the widespread support it enjoys from the global South.
We can forgive China’s foreign minister for his justifiable conceit in suggesting that “Chinese wisdom” was worth deploying in the resolution of differences.
“The establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation helps to move beyond the zero-sum mindset of ‘you lose and I win’,” he said.
For the working-class movement in Britain, any move to lessen international tensions is welcome. We can but contrast Wang’s constructive approach with Keir Starmer’s enthusiastic rush to spend billions in the EU’s war preparations and his unceasing efforts to prolong the conflict in Ukraine.
