AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) is pleased to express its full support for the upcoming signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), to be held in Hong Kong on 30 May 2025. AALCO-HKRAC also extends warmest congratulations on the decision to establish the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong.
The signing ceremony will bring together senior representatives from nearly 60 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, as well as around 20 international organisations, including the United Nations. This milestone event marks a significant breakthrough in the development of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Mr. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will attend the ceremony in person, underscoring China’s strong commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation in international rule of law. An International Mediation Forum will also be held in the afternoon, focusing on key topics such as inter-state dispute mediation and mediation in international investment and commercial disputes.
The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) is the world’s first and only intergovernmental legal organisation specializing in resolving international disputes by way of mediation. It stands alongside the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague as a key institution in the international dispute resolution landscape. The establishment of IOMed’s headquarters in Hong Kong marks the first time that an intergovernmental organisation of this kind is headquartered in the city, signifying the international community’s strong recognition of Hong Kong’s legal system and professional legal services.
As an international institution established under international law and committed to promoting cross-border legal cooperation and dispute resolution in the Asia-Africa region, AALCO-HKRAC firmly believes that IOMed will enrich the global dispute resolution toolbox. It will offer a flexible, efficient, and cost-effective mechanism for resolving disputes across diverse legal systems, while promoting party autonomy and international collaboration.
The presence of IOMed in Hong Kong will greatly enhance the city’s international image as a global hub for mediation. It will further consolidate Hong Kong’s status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, while attracting a broader range of international organisations, academic institutions, and legal professionals. The development of legal technologies, research, and judicial cooperation is also expected to benefit.
In addition to its legal significance, IOMed is expected to bring positive economic impacts to Hong Kong by creating local employment opportunities in areas such as mediation, translation, legal research, and administration. It will also stimulate growth in related sectors including hospitality, convention and exhibition services, food and beverage, and logistics. More international conferences and events are expected to be hosted in Hong Kong as a result.
Mr. Nicholas CHAN Hiu-Fung, BBS, MH, JP, Director of AALCO-HKRAC, remarked:
“Hong Kong’s mature common law system, its pool of international legal talent, and extensive experience in cross-border dispute resolution will provide strong support for IOMed. The establishment of its headquarters here is a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s rule-of-law-based business environment and injects new momentum into global multilateral legal cooperation and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.”
The establishment of IOMed reflects a new model of international rule of law promoted by China and a group of like-minded countries, based on the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. Between 2023 and 2024, five rounds of negotiations on the Convention were held under the auspices of the Preparatory Office established in Hong Kong in early 2023. A broad consensus was reached in early 2024 to designate China as the host country and Hong Kong SAR as the headquarters location. Hong Kong’s role in this process exemplifies the strengths of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.
AALCO-HKRAC will continue to serve as a platform for international legal collaboration and will work closely with IOMed to build a more inclusive and effective international legal cooperation network. The Centre remains committed to contributing to the advancement of international rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre
27 May 2025
_____________________________________________________________________
About AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre
Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), established in 1956 as a major outcome of the Bandung Conference to promote world peace and cooperation, is an intergovernmental organization backed by 49member countries (comprising most Asian and African countries). The global head office of AALCO is staffed by diplomats seconded from member countries, effectively supporting the robust AALCO Dispute Settlement System, established and thriving since the 1970s, which effectively complements other major international conventions and legal frameworks concerning cross-border dispute settlement.
AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC), opened on 25th May, 2022 in Hong Kong, has launched traditional offline and modern Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform for alternative dispute resolution services. AALCO-HKRAC is renowned for employing the latest and easy-to-use legal technologies to lower costs and enhance efficiency and security in the dispute resolution process. As such, our ODR services significantly help facilitate access to justice for global Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) users and contribute to capacity building for the younger generation of dispute resolution professionals in Hong Kong and in the region.
As one of AALCO’s six regional arbitration centers worldwide, AALCO-HKRAC is established under international law and enjoys privileges and immunities pursuant to Hong Kong’s International Organizations (Privileges and Immunities) Ordinance (Chapter 558). Leveraging its neutral national status, the Centre specializes in handling international commercial disputes, particularly those involving governmental entities. Its core functions and mandates include:
- act as a coordinating agency in the AALCO dispute settlement system;
- provide full-spectrum dispute resolution services, including administered arbitration, mediation, adjudication, expert determination, and domain name dispute resolution;
- launch sector-based dispute resolution schemes, including those for sports industry, constriction, international trade, e-commerce, and new economy sectors;
- provide assistance in enforcement of arbitral awards; and
- promote Online Dispute Resolution services and the growth and effective functioning of arbitration institutions and other alternative dispute resolution services.