2026年10月20日，国际调解院在香港总部举办成立一周年庆祝招待会，国际调解院秘书长郑若骅教授在招待会上致辞。以下是致辞全文（仅英文）。
The Honorable John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,
Commissioner Cui Jianchun (Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region),
The Honorable Chief Justice Andrew Cheung,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening, and a very warm welcome to the first anniversary celebration of the International Organization for Mediation.
It is a great honor and pleasure to have you all here today, as we mark an important milestone in the journey of IOMed.
Exactly one year ago, on 20 October 2025, IOMed was inaugurated here in Hong Kong as the world’s first treaty-based intergovernmental organization dedicated exclusively to mediation, and acquired its legal status that day.
Today, as we celebrate our first anniversary, I am delighted to share with you some of our developments over this year.
First, our international family continues to grow. From 37 Signatory States and 8 Contracting States in 2025, we now have 48 Signatory or Acceding States, including 18 Contracting States. This growth reflects the international community’s confidence in and aspiration to mediation, and also the work of IOMed.
Secondly, you have all been aware that we have been already administering mediation cases, and in May, IOMed successfully administered an international maritime dispute involving parties from China and Singapore, resulting in a settlement agreement. The mediator is here with us today.
As we celebrate IOMed’s 1st anniversary, I am delighted to share excellent news with you. Two mediation cases are taking place under the auspices of IOMed this very day: one here at our Headquarters, and another one online.
Better still, earlier today, the one that took place here at the IOMed Headquarters has been successfully concluded. The mediation, finalized within a single day, enabled the disputing parties to reach a settlement agreement concerning an infrastructure construction project in Malaysia. The case was brought by the offeror, who made an Offer to Mediate in the absence of prior agreement to mediation under Rule 9 of the IOMed International Commercial and Investment Mediation Rules.
IOMed subsequently contacted the offeree and secured its acceptance of the Offer to Mediate. This case showcases IOMed’s institutional value in facilitating mediation and settlement even where the parties had no pre-existing mediation agreement. I sometimes describe it as conducting pre-mediation mediation.
Thirdly, our international engagement over the past year has also been on the rise. We have hosted here at the headquarters more than 300 meetings with delegations and representatives from governments, international organizations, the legal and business communities, and academia. We have also visited 15 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe, promoting mediation and establishing international collaboration.
We are happy to inform you that we have signed a number of memoranda of understanding with international organizations, States and other bodies that share the same theme and mission as that of IOMed
We also have the platform of IOMed Seminar, which provides a very useful platform for developing countries
Ladies and gentlemen,
None of these achievements would have been possible without the trust, commitment and support of so many friends and partners.
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to our Contracting States and Signatory States for their confidence in IOMed and their continued commitment to our shared mission.
My heartfelt thanks also go to the Central People’s Government of China and the Hong Kong SAR Government for their steadfast support. Hong Kong, with its unique strengths as an international legal and dispute resolution services center, provides an excellent home for IOMed.
I am equally grateful to our international partners, mediators, legal professionals and, of course, the staff who have contributed constructively and positively to the work of the IOMed Secretariat.
Looking ahead, our mission remains clear.
In a world facing increasing uncertainty and division, the need for dialogue and peaceful settlement of disputes has never been greater.
Mediation offers something particularly valuable: the opportunity to resolve differences without destroying relationships, to find common ground without confrontation, and to pursue solutions that serve the interests of all concerned.
IOMed will continue to provide accessible, efficient and effective mediation services, strengthen international partnerships, and promote mediation through capacity building and the exchange of experience.
Our ambition is not simply to build a successful institution, but to help foster a culture in which mediation becomes a natural and trusted choice for resolving international disputes.
One year is a short time in the life of an international organization. We are still a “toddler” and have a lot to do. But we have made an encouraging start, and we have a lot more to accomplish.
With your continued support, I am confident that IOMed will make an enduring contribution to international peace, cooperation and prosperity.
Thank you very much, and I wish you all a wonderful evening.