World’s first intergovernmental mediation body launched in Hong Kong A new established international mediation body headquartered in Hong Kong can contribute to improving the world’s legal system, mainland China’s vice-foreign minister has said. Hua Chunying also highlighted on Monday the short time it took for the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) – the world’s first intergovernmental body dedicated to mediation – to become operational. She said this showed strong support from the international community for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Hua was in Hong Kong to officiate at the inauguration ceremony of the IOMed, where the city’s former justice minister, Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, was appointed as the first secretary general. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also stressed the importance of international mediation, saying that it was “indispensable” amid global instability. Hua said in her address: “[IOMed’s] establishment offers a new platform in the field of international rule of law. The IOMed upholds reconciliation, cooperation and harmony. “It stresses the autonomy of the parties concerned, champions equal consultation and purses win-win collaboration.” She added that the organisation would fully leverage the unique strength of mediation, supporting the peaceful settlement of international disputes in a more sustainable way. “We are confident the IOMed will certainly contribute to improving the international legal system and give a boost to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.” The idea of setting up an international body for mediation can be traced back to 2022, when China and around 20 like-minded countries jointly initiated the establishment of the IOMed. The IOMed will be the world’s first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. A general consensus was reached that the IOMed headquarters should be in Hong Kong. In May, representatives from about 60 countries and around 20 international organisations gathered in Hong Kong to attend the signing ceremony for the convention on the IOMed’s establishment. The convention, which came into force in August, currently has 37 signatories, with eight having ratified it. Hua also described the speed as “unprecedented” in the history of setting up an international agency. “It speaks to the fact that the establishment of the IOMed echoes the call of our times and responds to the aspirations of the international community for the peaceful settlement of international disputes,” Hua said, adding that the win-win collaboration among nations was gaining “extensive support from across the world”. Addressing about 200 guests at Monday’s ceremony, Lee reiterated that international mediation was “indispensable” amid global instability. “In these times of global instability, international mediation is indispensable for resolving disputes, preserving relationships and encouraging meaningful cooperation,” he said. “With our world-class professional services, Hong Kong is dedicated to supporting the cause of dispute resolution.” Lee also added he was confident the Hong Kong-headquartered international agency would eventually “rise as a respected and trusted body for resolving disputes”. He noted that the Hong Kong Legal Week in December would include a session on international mediation, and the city would also host a global mediation summit next year that would bring together experts in the field from around the world. Meanwhile, Cheng said the organisation offered the international community “a powerful choice” to truly practise autonomy and mutual respect. “IOMed will complement the services of other international dispute resolution bodies and aims to provide mediation as a viable, efficient and effective option for disputants in state-to-state disputes, international investment disputes and international commercial disputes,” Cheng added. Officials have said the IOMed is also an important initiative for Hong Kong in establishing the city as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under China’s 14th five-year plan. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329685/worlds-first-intergovernmental-mediation-body-launched-hong-kong (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post