On Friday, Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo and the minister of foreign affairs, will attend the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). This marks the imminent official launch of the IOMed, a major international organization headquartered in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

This decision not only reflects the central government’s high level of trust and its full support for the HKSAR but also highlights the city’s unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework, injecting new momentum into its development as a hub for international legal and dispute resolution services.

The establishment of the IOMed in the HKSAR will further elevate the city’s global standing, solidify its role as a leading center for legal and arbitration services in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, and demonstrate China’s commitment to promoting peaceful resolution of international disputes and improving the global governance system.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed his gratitude on Tuesday for granting the HKSAR such an important international status, which also reflects the central government’s firm support for the city’s development as an international legal and dispute-resolution services center in the Asia-Pacific region under the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

The IOMed will become another high-level international dispute-resolution body, following institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Unlike traditional litigation and arbitration, mediation emphasizes consensus-building through negotiation, offering advantages such as lower costs, higher efficiency, and greater flexibility — qualities that align with the international community’s growing preference for peaceful dispute resolution. The IOMed’s establishment reflects China’s advocacy of seeking harmony through settling disputes, or the Confucius “harmony principle” for social administration; it responds to the global demand for diversifying dispute-resolution mechanisms.

Certainly, the IOMed will help countries find more constructive solutions to disputes in areas such as trade, investment, and maritime rights, avoiding the prolonged deadlocks that adversarial legal proceedings may create. As the host city, the HKSAR will play a direct role in shaping and implementing international rules, further strengthening China’s voice in global governance.

Choosing Hong Kong as the location of IOMed headquarters is a recognition of its long-standing strengths in legal professionalism and international competitiveness.

In addition, Hong Kong operates under a well-established common law system, with an independent judiciary that enjoys global respect. Court judgments from Hong Kong are frequently cited in other common law jurisdictions, while its arbitration awards are enforceable in over 160 signatory countries of the New York Convention. This legal stability and predictability provides a solid foundation for the IOMed’s operations.

Hong Kong is home to a vast pool of experts in international law, commercial mediation, and cross-border dispute resolution. The city’s legal sector, arbitration institutions (such as the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre), and law schools have long been engaged in innovative research and practice, offering high-caliber professional support to the IOMed. Additionally, Hong Kong’s lawyers, arbitrators, and mediators are typically bilingual (English and Chinese) and well-versed in different legal systems, making the city an ideal bridge between Eastern and Western legal traditions.

Moreover, Hong Kong’s open economy, free flow of capital and information, and world-class financial and professional services create an ideal ecosystem for international organizations. Multinational corporations, global institutions, and legal firms have long established regional headquarters or offices in Hong Kong, fostering a highly internationalized legal and commercial network. By basing the IOMed in Hong Kong, the organization can efficiently engage with governments, businesses, and institutions worldwide, amplifying its global influence.

The IOMed’s presence in Hong Kong carries profound implications. On one hand, it will attract more international legal bodies, mediation experts, and related service providers, boosting the local legal, financial, and professional services sectors. On the other hand, the IOMed’s case precedents will enrich Hong Kong’s expertise in international law, reinforcing its status as Asia-Pacific’s premier dispute-resolution hub.

At the national level, the HKSAR’s role as the IOMed headquarters will empower China to take a more proactive stance in global governance. China has long championed peaceful dispute resolution, and the IOMed embodies this vision. Leveraging its international platform, Hong Kong can help promote its “Eastern wisdom” tradition in mediation, fostering global recognition of consultative approaches and contributing to a more equitable and inclusive international order.

The HKSAR’s deputy secretary for justice, Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, has clearly stated: “The establishment of the IOMed in Hong Kong is expected to bring positive economic benefits to the city.”

It is explicit that the establishment of the IOMed in Hong Kong is both a testament to the success of the “one country, two systems” principle and a recognition of the city’s strengths in rule of law and global connectivity. Moving forward, Hong Kong should seize this opportunity to further refine its legal and mediation infrastructure, attract top international legal talent, and ensure the IOMed becomes a widely trusted global institution.

At the same time, Hong Kong must continue serving as a superconnector, facilitating international legal cooperation and supporting the nation’s participation in global governance. This milestone arrangement will not only enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness but also make meaningful contributions to world peace and stability.

The author is a law professor, director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, and president of the Association for the Promotion of Rule of Law, Education and Technologies.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.