At the first Governing Council meeting on 20 October 2025, the International Organization for Mediation (“IOMed”)was authorized to commence its operations as of the same date. The Governing Council appointed Prof. Teresa CHENG Yeuk-wah SC as the Secretary-General, and Dr. SUN Jin as the Deputy Secretary-General.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr. John LEE, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and representatives of the 8 contracting States as well as 87 senior officials from 31 States out of the 37 signatory States.
Chairperson of Governing Council, H.E. HUA Chunying said the vision behind the establishment of IOMed is highly consistent with that of the Global Governance Initiative of China. Its establishment offers a new platform in the field of international rule of law.
The Secretary-General Prof. Teresa CHENG Yeuk-wah SC said IOMed cherishes and practices multilateralism serving as a global public good and vital pillar in the field of peaceful settlement of international disputes. The main purpose of IOMed is to provide mediation services for disputes between States, international investment and international commercial disputes.
The Headquarters of IOMed is housed at a heritage building in the HKSAR, the Old Wan Chai Police Station, which is one of the few remaining pre-war police stations. The Headquarters is equipped with state-of-the-art mediation rooms and breakout rooms for mediations and capacity building.
The Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of IOMed was held on May 30, 2025, during which 33 signatory States signed the Convention. The Convention entered into force on 29 August 2025. As of today, 8 countries have ratified the Convention, namely, China, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Congo, Kiribati, Pakistan, Kenya and Dominica.
More information about IOMed is available on its website at https://www.iomed.int/.
The Inaugural Session of Governing Council of IOMed, with H.E. HUA Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China as Chairperson.
Prof. Teresa CHENG Yeuk-wah SC, the inaugural Secretary-General of IOMed, as the Master of Ceremony.
The Inauguration of IOMed, H.E. Martin CHARLES, Ambassador of Dominica to China, H.E. Nabeel MUNIR, Special Secretary for United Nations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Tatiana Josefina PUGH MORENO, Deputy Minister of Office of Asia, Middle East and Oceania of Venezuela, H.E. Martin MORETI, Minister of Justice of Kiribati, H.E. HUA Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. John LEE, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Prof. Teresa CHENG Yeuk-wah SC, the inaugural Secretary-General of IOMed, H.E. Willy Kipkorir BETT, Ambassador of Kenya to China – Beijing, Accredited to IOMed, State Department for Foreign Affairs – Deputy Director General, Asia and Pacific Directorate, H.E. Guy Nestor ITOUA, Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad, the Republic of Congo and H.E. Silvia Patricia MIRANDA CAMPOS, National Financial Prosecutor, Attorney General’s Office, the Republic of Nicaragua. [From Left to Right]
Group Photo of the Contracting States and Signatory States of IOMed.
Group Photo of the Guests of the Inauguration Ceremony.