The signing ceremony for the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) took place in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Friday, marking the establishment of the world’s first intergovernmental mediation body.

Dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation, the IOMed’s headquarters will be established at Hong Kong’s historic Old Wan Chai Police Station, which is under renovation, with preparatory works expected to be completed by the end of this year or the beginning of 2026.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and about 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations, including the United Nations, attended the ceremony, which was held at 10 am on Friday. Among the attending countries, 32 signed up to the convention on-site, becoming the IOMed’s founding members.

IN PHOTOS: Signing ceremony on IOMed launching held in HK

Wang noted in his opening speech that the IOMed’s launch coincides with the 80th anniversaries of both the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the UN. The preamble of the UN Charter states that countries should live together in peace as good neighbors and unite to maintain international peace and security, said Wang.

Wang said that China has consistently advocated for resolving differences through mutual understanding, building consensus through dialogue, promoting development through win-win cooperation, and crafting forward-looking solutions — principles that underpin the nation’s distinctive approach to addressing global conflicts.

Wang said the establishment of the IOMed is an innovate move in the field of international rule of law and a fulfillment of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, which also embodies the wisdom of harmony and coexistence and complements the existing international dispute resolution mechanisms, such as litigation and arbitration.

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Citing Hong Kong’s return to the motherland as a successful example of resolving international disputes peacefully, Wang said the city’s close connection with the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world, its favorable business environment, and its highly developed legal system combining the advantages of the common law system and the civil law system ensure the SAR is uniquely positioned as an international mediation center.

He called on the international community to support the growth of the IOMed, urging more countries to join and help build a fair, flexible and inclusive global mediation system.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu hailed the signing of the convention as a significant step toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world, which is in line with the aspirations enshrined in the UN Charter that calls on all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means.

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Lee noted that the launch of the IOMed comes at a critical time — amid heightened geopolitical tensions, setbacks in the progress toward achieving sustainable development goals, and growing skepticism toward global collaboration — which makes effective, accessible, and peaceful dispute resolution more essential than ever.

The chief executive stressed that mediation — rooted in dialogue, understanding, trust, and compromise — offers a proven path forward, enabling parties to address not just the symptoms but also the root causes of conflicts.

Lee pointed out that mediation is often faster, more cost-effective, and a better way to preserve relationships compared to litigation or arbitration, and builds on the rich traditions of peaceful conflict resolution embedded in cultures around the world.

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Expressing his confidence in the future of the IOMed, Lee said the new body will provide a vital platform for sharing best practices and building mediation capacity, and added that it will play an essential role in resolving cross-border commercial and investment disputes, accelerating solutions to complex global challenges, and promoting the values of peace, cooperation, and rule of law.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, praised China’s pivotal role in transforming shared ideals into tangible global governance mechanisms through the establishment of the IOMed, highlighting the initiative as a testament to Chinese wisdom.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dar emphasized that the IOMed not only heralds a new era for international mediation but also embodies a crucial multilateral institution upholding diplomatic reconciliation principles.

He lauded the selection of Hong Kong as the IOMed’s headquarters, describing the city as a "superconnector and a super value adder" bridging Eastern and Western interests.

Dar also expressed confidence that the newborn institution would foster a more inclusive and equitable world order.

Amon Murwira, minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe, commended China’s exemplary leadership in formulating the IOMed convention, noting its vital significance in maintaining international stability amid complex geopolitical tensions.

He underscored China’s peace-building initiatives as cornerstones for developing nations’ growth agendas, affirming that the convention’s spirit of peace, openness, cooperation, and mutual benefits would yield substantial outcomes.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua attended the ceremony and respectively delivered addresses.

Following the signing ceremony, a high-level international mediation forum is to be hosted on Friday afternoon, focusing on topics including state-to-state dispute resolution and mediation in international investment and commercial conflicts.

Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com