Hong Kong: China has taken a significant step in expanding its influence in international legal and diplomatic affairs with the launch of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong.
The move, led by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was formalized on Friday with the signing of a multilateral convention co-signed by 31 other countries, including Serbia, Pakistan, Venezuela, and Papua New Guinea.
The establishment of IOMed is being seen as a strategic attempt to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading global center for dispute resolution at a time when geopolitical tensions, including the US-China trade war, continue to disrupt global commerce and supply chains.
Wang said the initiative was aimed at transcending “‘the zero-sum mentality of ‘win or lose,’” and promoting “the amicable resolution of international disputes” to build “more harmonious international relations.”
The body will have the authority to mediate international disputes involving states, as well as conflicts between states and individuals or private international entities.
Signing ceremony of Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation(IOMed) was held in Hong Kong today. Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said as an innovative initiative in the field of international rule of… pic.twitter.com/3yHLMmQYfA
— Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town (@ChnConsulateCPT) May 30, 2025
According to the Hong Kong government, IOMed will operate “on par” with institutions such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
Hong Kong’s Justice Secretary Paul Lam framed the development as a defense against hostile external forces seeking to undermine the city’s global legal standing.
Paul Lam said the creation of IOMed reinstates confidence in the city’s judicial neutrality, which has been questioned internationally since the imposition of Beijing’s controversial national security law in 2020.
The launch of IOMed is part of China’s broader strategy to increase its footprint in global governance, particularly within institutions such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization, areas where Beijing has become increasingly assertive amid US withdrawal from multilateral leadership.
