On May 30, 2025, the signing ceremony of the International Mediation House Convention was held in Hong Kong. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, attended and delivered a speech. About 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe attended. Among them, 33 countries signed the convention on the spot and became founding members.

Wang Yi said that the preamble of the UN Charter emphasizes that countries should live in harmony and maintain international peace and security. China has always advocated handling differences in a spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation, building consensus through dialogue and consultation, promoting development with a win-win attitude, solving problems with a future-oriented perspective, and actively exploring solutions to hot issues with Chinese characteristics. Three years ago, Chinese comrades and like-minded countries jointly proposed the establishment of the International Mediation House. After unremitting efforts, the convention was finally reached, which received widespread support and positive response from the international community. As an innovative move in the field of international rule of law, the International Mediation House is of great significance in the history of international relations.

The establishment of the Mediation Institute implements the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, will fill the gaps in the international mediation mechanism, and is an important rule of law public product for improving global governance.

The establishment of the Mediation Institute also contains the wisdom of civilization and coexistence, which helps to transcend the zero-sum mentality of “you lose and I win”, promote the friendly settlement of international disputes, and build more harmonious international relations.

The establishment of the Mediation Institute also demonstrates the inclusive rule of law civilization, respects the wishes of the parties, and gives play to the advantages of being more flexible, more economical, more convenient and more efficient, complementing and synergizing with existing international dispute settlement mechanisms such as litigation and arbitration.

Wang Yi said that China expects all signatories to ratify the Convention as soon as possible and welcomes more countries to actively join.

Let us uphold the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, adhere to voluntary participation, equal decision-making, and common benefits, respect the reasonable concerns of all parties, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

Let us promote reconciliation, cooperation and harmony, cultivate a mediation culture, enhance mediation awareness, and establish a set of independent, flexible, pragmatic, efficient and internationally leading mediation rules and mechanisms as soon as possible.

Let us uphold fairness, justice and equity, pay attention to the true spirit of the rule of law, balance procedural justice and outcome justice, enhance the participation of developing countries, and enhance the representation and voice of the global South in international governance.

Wang Yi said that, after the agreement of the negotiating countries of the Convention, Hong Kong will become the headquarters of the International Mediation Institute. The return of Hong Kong itself is a successful example of peaceful settlement of international disputes. Hong Kong is backed by the motherland and connected to the world. It has the advantages of both the common law system and the continental law system, and has unique conditions in international mediation. I believe that the new star of the International Mediation Institute will grow together with the “Pearl of the Orient” and complement each other.

Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar, Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Murvela, Nicaraguan Attorney General Morales, Serbian Minister of Justice Vujic, Swiss Foreign Minister Cassis, and UN Deputy Secretary-General Li Junhua delivered speeches respectively. All parties highly affirmed the contemporary value and far-reaching significance of the Mediation Institute, and believed that in the current world with increasing conflicts and intensified divisions, the establishment of the Mediation Institute is timely, crucial and of historic significance. The Mediation Institute is in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, embodies respect, mutual trust, justice and harmony, is an effective measure to strengthen multilateralism, and will become a key pillar for improving global governance and a new milestone in promoting global rule of law. We call on more countries to sign and ratify the Convention and jointly achieve lasting peace and sustainable development through mediation. All parties appreciate China’s active role as a major country and look forward to the Mediation Institute’s contribution to promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes and promoting friendly cooperation among countries.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said in his speech that he welcomes the establishment of the world’s first intergovernmental international organization dedicated to mediation in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will give full play to the institutional advantages of “one country, two systems” and fully support the work of the Mediation Institute.

Source: 《International Business News》