{"id":123454,"date":"2025-10-21T06:12:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T06:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/index.php\/2025\/10\/21\/international-body-for-mediation-inaugurated-in-hong-kong-with-kenya-as-vice-chair\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T06:12:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T06:12:11","slug":"international-body-for-mediation-inaugurated-in-hong-kong-with-kenya-as-vice-chair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/international-body-for-mediation-inaugurated-in-hong-kong-with-kenya-as-vice-chair\/","title":{"rendered":"International body for mediation inaugurated in Hong Kong with Kenya as Vice Chair"},"content":{"rendered":"

HONG KONG, Oct 21 \u2014 A brand-new chapter in the global dispute resolution mechanism opened on Monday with the inauguration of the International Organization for Mediation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Heralded as the world\u2019s first intergovernmental body dedicated solely to mediation, the IOMed, championed by China and a broad coalition of nations, is primed to offer a powerful, collaborative alternative to costly legal battles.<\/p>\n

An inauguration ceremony was held on Monday morning at the new organization\u2019s permanent headquarters in the Old Wan Chai Police Station.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the event, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged full support for the IOMed, which positions the city as a vital hub in the global mediation landscape. Lee called the inauguration a testament to a shared global commitment to dialogue and cooperation over confrontation and conflict.<\/p>\n

He highlighted Hong Kong\u2019s unique advantages under the \u201cone country, two systems\u201d policy, including its common law system, its world-class law schools, and the tradition of upholding the rule of law.<\/p>\n

Lee also outlined concrete plans to bolster the city\u2019s role in international mediation, such as hosting a global mediation summit in 2026 and developing the nearby Hong Kong International Legal Service Building to provide additional facilities for the IOMed.<\/p>\n

The establishment of the IOMed is widely seen as a direct response to a growing demand for a more accessible and equitable system, particularly for developing economies and small businesses.<\/p>\n

\u2018Built with consensus\u2019 <\/h2>\n

Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, newly elected secretary-general of the IOMed, said the body is a global public good that has been \u201cbuilt from consensus, based on exclusivity, equality, mutual respect and understanding\u201d.<\/p>\n

Hua Chunying, China\u2019s vice-minister of foreign affairs and chairperson of the IOMed Governing Council, emphasized in her opening remarks that the organization echoes \u201cthe core of our times and responds to the aspirations of the international community for the peaceful settlement of international disputes\u201d.<\/p>\n

Hua noted that the new organization supplements the existing international dispute settlement mechanisms and promotes a people-centered approach through affordable and high-quality mediation services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe IOMed values real actions. It will fully leverage the unique strength of mediation, such as flexibility, cost-effectiveness, accessibility and efficiency, and support the peaceful settlement of international disputes in a more sustainable way,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Kenya\u2019s leadership <\/h2>\n

Willy Bett, Kenya\u2019s ambassador to China and vice-chairperson of the IOMed Governing Council, said that for too long, dispute resolution has been \u201cperceived as costly, hopeless and inaccessible\u201d.<\/p>\n

The IOMed is a long-awaited platform for the Global South, which will provide a dedicated and cost-effective forum for governments, businesses and investors to find common ground, Bett said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe IOMed is the tool to \u2018de-risk\u2019,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Martin Charles, Dominica\u2019s ambassador to China, celebrated the IOMed as a \u201cdream come true\u201d and a \u201cnew era for dispute resolution\u201d \u2014 one that allows smaller states to gain greater visibility and participation in global governance.<\/p>\n

Tatiana Pugh Moreno, Venezuelan deputy minister of foreign affairs for Asia, the Middle East and Oceania, hailed the IOMed as a necessary response to \u201cimperialism and the many faces of colonialism\u201d.<\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s ceremony also marked the completion of three years of development since the proposal for the establishment of the IOMed was first made.<\/p>\n

For more visit\u00a0China Daily<\/a><\/p>\n

For subscriptions on news from China Daily, or inquiries, please contact China Daily Africa Ltd on +254 20 6920900 or write to enquiries@chinadailyafrica.com<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HONG KONG, Oct 21 \u2014 A brand-new chapter in the global dispute resolution mechanism opened on Monday with the inauguration of the International Organization for Mediation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Heralded as the world\u2019s first intergovernmental body dedicated solely to mediation, the IOMed, championed by China and a broad coalition of nations, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123454"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123454\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}