On October 21, the opening ceremony of the International Court of Mediation was held in Hong Kong. The International Court of Mediation is the first international intergovernmental organization dedicated exclusively to mediation. Its operation complements the existing international dispute settlement mechanism and is a milestone in promoting the settlement of international disputes through mediation.
On October 20, the International Court of Mediation was officially established in Hong Kong
The International Mediation Centre at 123 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, was very busy today. The headquarters building, which is based on the British colonial police station, has transformed its function from”Maintaining colonial order” to”Promoting international peace”.
The opening ceremony was held at 11:00 am. More than 30 states parties and signatories to the Convention on the establishment of an international court of Mediation (hereinafter referred to as the convention) and representatives from various sectors of the HKSAR attended the ceremony. Prior to the opening ceremony, the Council of the International Court of Mediation appointed its legal representative and chief official, the secretary-general. Ms Cheng, from Hong Kong, China, is secretary-general.
On October 20, the International Court of Mediation was officially established in Hong Kong
The ICC was initiated by China and a number of countries with similar positions. On 30 May this year, the convention signing ceremony was held in Hong Kong. The convention provides that: the International Court of Mediation is headquartered in Hong Kong, China, and its scope of jurisdiction includes disputes between states, disputes between nationals of one state and another state, and international commercial disputes between private parties. The convention entered into force on 29 August this year and has now been ratified by eight of the 37 signatories.
Mediation is one of the internationally important means of dispute settlement Charter of the United Nations in article thirty-three of the convention, but the field has long lacked an intergovernmental legal organization.
“The current international dispute settlement mechanism — Litigation and arbitration — faces difficulties such as lengthy procedures, high costs and even a shutdown,” Xiao Yongping, dean of the Institute of International Rule of law at Wuhan University, told Guangzhou Evening News. “The International Mediation Court aims to help the parties to a dispute find an acceptable solution in a flexible, economical, convenient and efficient way. This is a direct response to these difficulties.”.
Chinese culture advocates”Peace is precious”. Xiao Yongping said: “The Court has incorporated the wisdom of harmony and symbiosis in eastern civilization into the modern system of international law. It does not seek to determine who is right and who is wrong. It is committed to repairing relations, building consensus and achieving creative transformation of conflicts. It is conducive to reducing the cost of clash of civilizations and directing more energy towards development and cooperation.”
On October 20, the International Court of Mediation was officially established in Hong Kong
“The operation of the court makes it an important hub for global dispute resolution, alongside the International Court of Justice and Permanent Court of Arbitration,” said Qin Tianbao, president of the Wuhan University School of Law at the opening ceremony, this is a concrete step towards implementing the global governance initiative. It also demonstrates the international community’s high recognition of the city’s common law system and its full trust in the rule of law and its institutions under the “One Country, Two Systems law”.
Horace Cheung Long, Deputy Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR Government, said the establishment of the International Court of Mediation would bring economic, political and cultural development opportunities to the territory and help enhance its international influence.