Ashraf AboArafe
Hong Kong – Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, hailed the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation as a landmark step toward strengthening the rule of law in global governance. Speaking at the signing ceremony of the organization’s founding agreement in Hong Kong, Wang underscored the importance of dialogue and consultation as essential tools for peacefully resolving international disputes.
The event gathered senior representatives from over 50 countries and around 20 international organizations, with delegates from 32 nations signing the agreement to become founding members.
Wang emphasized that the creation of the organization comes at a pivotal moment when the world faces accelerating changes and intertwined global interests. In this context, mediation emerges not only as one of the peaceful means outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter but also as a shared value across civilizations.
The newly founded organization, headquartered in Hong Kong, will serve to mediate disputes between states, between states and foreign investors, and in international commercial conflicts. It fills a key institutional gap in the international legal architecture by offering a more flexible, economical, and efficient alternative to litigation and arbitration.
Wang noted that Hong Kong’s selection as the host city reflects its unique advantages—its deep integration with both the Chinese mainland and the global economy, its robust legal environment, and the coexistence of common law and civil law systems. He praised Hong Kong as a natural hub for international mediation.
He called on signatory countries to ratify the agreement promptly and encouraged more nations to join the initiative. China, Wang affirmed, is committed to fostering this new platform to promote fairness, mutual benefit, and inclusive development, while amplifying the voice of the Global South in international governance.
Wang concluded his address with a traditional Chinese parable about the “Six-Chi Alley,” where two disputing neighbors resolved their conflict through mutual concession. He likened this spirit to the role of mediation in turning walls into open pathways, urging joint efforts to realize the organization’s full potential in advancing peaceful dispute resolution and shaping a more harmonious future for humanity.
