Published : 2025-05-30
The signing ceremony for the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (Convention) took place in Hong Kong on May 30.
Upon ratification by the signatory states, the International Organization for Mediation will be formally established, with its headquarters located at the former Wan Chai Police Station site.
What is the International Organization for Mediation? Why was Hong Kong chosen for its headquarters? How significant is this for Hong Kong?
What is the International Organization for Mediation? Why do we need it?
The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) is a brand-new intergovernmental organization jointly initiated by China and 18 other countries.
As the world's first international legal body dedicated to resolving disputes exclusively through mediation, it will handle international conflicts as a neutral third party.
By facilitating peaceful, friendly, and non-confrontational mediation, the IOMed upholds the principle of "harmony as the highest value" to settle disagreements and achieve mutually accepted win-win solutions.
Compared to litigation and arbitration, the IOMed can effectively handle complex disputes that seek long-term interests and relationship restoration, filling the gap in existing international dispute resolution mechanisms.
Its role is comparable to that of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in the field of mediation.
After its establishment, the IOMed will be able to handle three types of disputes: the first type being disputes between countries, the second type being disputes between a country and the people of another country, and the third type being international commercial disputes.
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Why was HK chosen as the headquarters of the IOMed?
The headquarters of the IOMed is located in Hong Kong, specifically at the old Wan Chai Police Station in the core area of Hong Kong Island. Why did such an authoritative international organisation choose to set up its headquarters in Hong Kong?
As one of the top five arbitration hubs in the world, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre is globally renowned.
Under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, Hong Kong is the only judicial jurisdiction in the world that implements a bilingual common law system.
It has a rich pool of international professional talents, provides high-quality and efficient services, and its awards can be enforced in more than 170 locations worldwide, giving it global influence.
Although there is a difference between arbitration and international mediation, Hong Kong's advantages are clear.
Positioned at the crossroads of the country and the world, Hong Kong also plays an irreplaceable role as a bridge.
The establishment of the International Organization for Mediation here fully demonstrates the unique value of "One Country, Two Systems"—on the one hand, it gains solid support from the state, while on the other hand, it operates in a manner familiar to the international community, becoming a globally recognized "neutral ground" and an ideal platform for resolving international disputes.
Hong Kong's open environment will continue to attract global mediation elites, further solidifying Hong Kong's position as a leader in international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.
The rooting of the IOMed in Hong Kong marks the city's upgrade from an "economic centre" to an "international peace envoy."
When frictions arise between countries, Hong Kong no longer stands as a bystander but takes on the critical role of building a bridge for dialogue, contributing uniquely to the construction of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind, with its unique Eastern wisdom.
