From 18 to 19 June 2026, IOMed Secretary-General Prof. Teresa Cheng attended in Belgrade the Horizons Sustainability and Connectivity Forum co-organized by the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
On 19 June, Prof. Cheng spoke on the panel “Eurasia Connectivity: The Marvels of the Future World”, where she elaborated on the strong relevance of mediation and IOMed to promoting sustainability and connectivity amidst changing geopolitical dynamics.
She underscored that the establishment of IOMed aligns well with Goal 16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as the body provides a fair, accessible and inclusive dispute resolution platform for the international community. And the quick growth of number of IOMed member states also reflects the ever stronger recognition of the value of mediation for a sustainable future.
Noting the importance of effective and efficient dispute resolution to advancing cross-border and even cross-continental connectivity, Prof. Cheng stressed that mediation demonstrates the power of dialogue and listening, and enables countries and business stakeholders with different cultural backgrounds to connect with each other and find mutually acceptable solutions based on mutual trust, instead of resorting to adversarial and lengthy mechanisms such as litigation. And IOMed can contribute in this context by providing a viable option for parties to resolve State-to-State, investor-State or international commercial disputes amicably and preserve cooperative relationships.
Other speakers of the panel included Ms. Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, Ms. Jovanka Porsche, Founder of Global Neighbors, and Mr. Patrick Zhong, Chairman of M31 Capital. The panel was moderated by Ms. HAN Hua, Co-founder of the Beijing Club for International Dialogue.
During the forum, Prof. Cheng also engaged extensively with government officials, business leaders and scholars to explore opportunities of cooperation.