Fri May 30 04:49:46 UTC 2025: **Headline: China Launches International Mediation Body in Hong Kong Aiming to Rival UN’s Top Court**

**Hong Kong** – China has launched the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong, hoping the body will become a leading global conflict resolution hub and rival the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Convention on the Establishment of IOMed was signed on Friday, in a ceremony presided over by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has stated the IOMed will have a status on par with the UN’s ICJ and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. According to a video shown at the signing ceremony, the IOMed will handle disputes between countries, between a country and nationals of another country, and between private international entities. Representatives from countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, and Serbia, and 20 international bodies including the United Nations, attended the signing.

Beijing hopes the IOMed will bolster Hong Kong’s international credentials amid concerns of economic stagnation since its handover to China in 1997 and increasing Beijing control. Hong Kong’s Justice Secretary Paul Lam believes IOMed will help the city face “hostile external forces”.

The IOMed headquarters, set to open by early 2026, will be located in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai district.

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