China has established a new international organization to facilitate the resolution of disputes between countries through peaceful negotiations, as reported by AP News. More than 30 countries, including Pakistan, Indonesia, Belarus, and Cuba, joined China on Friday to sign an agreement in Hong Kong. This new group is called the International Organization for Mediation and will be based in Hong Kong. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that China aims to assist countries in resolving their issues through dialogue rather than conflict. He explained that this new organization will help move away from the idea that one side must lose for the other to win.
The support from these developing countries indicates that China is gaining increasing influence around the world, particularly as tensions escalate due to the trade wars initiated by US President Donald Trump. Wang Yi told the gathering that China has always believed in resolving differences through understanding and cooperation. According to AP News, Beijing claims this is the world's first government-level organization dedicated to mediation in resolving international disputes, and it will help uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Reuters coverage reveals that China hopes this mediation body will be as important as the International Court of Justice and help make Hong Kong stronger on the world stage. The timing is significant, as global tensions have increased due to President Trump's trade policies, which have created risks for the world economy. Hong Kong's leader John Lee said earlier this week that this mediation center will help Hong Kong become a top place for solving disputes between countries.
The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, and Serbia, as well as officials from 20 international organizations, including the United Nations. The new organization will handle different types of disputes including problems between countries, issues between a government and citizens of another country, and business disagreements between international companies.
ABC News emphasizes that this development highlights Beijing's growing influence in the Global South amid rising tensions worldwide. The ceremony brought together representatives from about 50 countries and 20 organizations, demonstrating broad international interest in alternative dispute resolution methods. A law professor from the Chinese University of Hong Kong explained that this new organization will work alongside existing institutions like the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, rather than replacing them.
While these older institutions focus on making legal decisions and arbitration, the new mediation organization offers a more flexible approach to solving international problems. Hong Kong was chosen as the headquarters because Wang Yi said the city has well-developed rule of law with advantages from both common law and Chinese legal systems.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-wang-yi-mediation-legal-2ef92852a2b13528e3e44be7cada1531
https://www.reuters.com/en/china-sets-up-sets-up-international-mediation-body-hong-kong-2025-05-30/
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