This is a huge innovation in which China has led the way.
It provides a ‘pathway’ for the Mediation of disputes between ‘state actors’, including ‘International Cultural Heritage Disputes’, see the ‘Art, Civilization & Law’ page at www.carlislam.co.uk. See also www.diplomaticlawguide.com.
The objective and goal of the IOMed is to promote and facilitate the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and to develop friendly relations and co-operation between countries through mediation.
‘The IOMed will become the world’s first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. It also reflects our shared confidence in mediation as a peaceful means to maintain international peace and security, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations.
The IOMed will provide a pathway for countries – regardless of culture, language and legal system – to resolve international disputes based on mutual respect and understanding. This is increasingly important amid mounting geopolitical tensions. When protectionism threatens to derail the international trade order, and when unilateralism looms over global supply chains, it is dialogue – not division – that restores balance.
China has long championed equity and unity. The Chinese virtue of “和而不同”, meaning “harmony in diversity”, is deeply rooted in our community and culture. This value of mutual respect in spite of differences also sits at the heart of mediation, the IOMed, and a world that seeks co-operation over conflict.
Despite geopolitical turbulence, Hong Kong builds bridges, not walls. Under our unique “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the only world city that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. With the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong has risen as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.
We are the only common law jurisdiction in China, and the only jurisdiction in the world with a bilingual common law system in both Chinese and English. We have a long tradition of the rule of law, and our courts exercise their judicial power independently. Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal, which is vested with the power of final adjudication, has on its bench eminent jurists from both Hong Kong and overseas common law jurisdictions.’
The scope of the Convention is wider than its title suggests, and you might imagine.
See:
· Article 25 ‘Disputes between States.’
· Article 27 ‘Disputes between a State and a national of another State.’
· Article 28 ‘International commercial disputes between private parties.’
Note that Art 26 also provides:
‘In case of a dispute submitted by States involving a third State, the Organization shall not provide mediation services with respect to such dispute unless prior consent is given by the third State concerned.’
So, if the third State consents, then the mediation of these disputes is also within the scope of the Convnetion.
This would include an armed conflict between: (i) a State Actor and (ii) a ‘Non-State Actor’ .
For example, the process of secret talks that took place between what was then apartheid South Africa and the ANC, which were brokered and mediated by Michael Young, who worked for Consolidated Gold Fields. These talks took place in Mells Park House, a country house near Frome in Somerset, which at the time was owned by Consolidated Gold Fields.
See – https://lnkd.in/ecraaKxX
See also:
Thirty-three countries sign Convention to launch the International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong: https://cms-lawnow.com/en/ealerts/2025/06/thirty-three-countries-sign-convention-to-launch-the-international-organization-for-mediation-in-hong-kong
http://www.marinacastellaneta.it/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IOMed_Convention.pdf