Remarks by Commissioner Cui Jianchun at the Global Mediation Summit
(May 8, 2026)
Ambassador Willy Bett,
Director-General Qi Dahai,
Secretary-General Teresa Cheng,
Secretary Paul Lam Ting-kwok,
Consuls General,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,
It is my great pleasure to join you here in Hong Kong in this beautiful season of growth and renewal. Please accept our heartfelt congratulations on the opening of the Global Mediation Summit and warmest welcome to all our colleagues from around the world!
Ladies and gentlemen,
Differences and disputes are an objective reality. Non-peaceful means such as force or war are not the preferred choices for resolving them. In a world marked by transformation, turbulence and ongoing conflicts, peaceful means including litigation, arbitration and mediation, should be the primary options for settling disputes.
Litigation, arbitration and mediation are not substitutes for or exclusions of one another; rather, they complement and reinforce each other, forming a diverse dispute settlement system.
Today, as we gather to discuss mediation—a unique and valuable means of peaceful dispute settlement—I wish to share three observations.
First, mediation is centered on the parties to a dispute, and it ensures party autonomy through free choice. From procedures to results, the parties to a dispute can make their own decisions, and their autonomy and free choice are protected to the greatest extent.
As it is often said, the only ones who can make peace are the parties to the conflict themselves. The high respect for the will of the parties is precisely the unique charm of mediation in modern rule-of-law civilization, and it is fully consistent with the spirit of multilateralism.
Second, mediation is supported by mediators, and it delivers win-win outcomes through professional services. Mediators have unique value in empowering others—using expertise, experience, and various modes and means, they mediate disputes by explaining rules and procedures, offering advisory support, communicating key concerns, and helping parties clarify disagreements, build trust, and work toward resolutions.
Third, mediation is led by member states, and it practices international rule of law through multilateral consensus. The legal essence of mediation is deeply rooted in the traditional concept of harmony and symphony and also represents the values of modern international rule of law, including but not limited to respect for each other, cooperation in good faith and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Echoing the call of our times, guided by member states, the Mediation Convention and the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) have come into being. Since the Mediation Convention opened for signature, the number of member states has been rising. Up to now, the IOMed has 41 signatory states and 13 contracting states. Furthermore, the IOMed has actively established connections with other international organizations, its “circle of friends” has kept expanding, and it has received extensive international recognition and support. As a member of this mediation family, China highly commends the wise decision of your country to be a founding member of the IOMed, and will work with all member states to support the IOMed to advance and thrive.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The IOMed is the world’s first intergovernmental legal organization dedicated exclusively to settling international disputes and commercial disputes through mediation. It is an innovative initiative in international rule of law and has great significance in the history of international relations.
Since the IOMed was officially inaugurated, under the joint efforts of the founding states, and led by Secretary-General Teresa Cheng, the Secretariat has vigorously advanced mediation services and international cooperation, achieving encouraging results. China commends these efforts.
As the initiator and host country of the IOMed, China will, as always, support its development. We welcome more countries to join the IOMed, and hope that more countries and international organizations will engage in close cooperation with the IOMed, so as to make new contributions to world peace and development, and give a boost to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
To conclude, I wish the Global Mediation Summit a complete success!
I thank you.