The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) hosted its inaugural "IOMed Global Series" Fireside Chat at its Wan Chai headquarters in Hong Kong on September 24, bringing together three generations of the city's legal leadership – Teresa Cheng, Rimsky Yuen, and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam. The milestone event, titled "The Journey to Peace & Prosperity Through Dialogue," comes as the world's first intergovernmental mediation body continues to expand, now counting 48 signatory states and 18 contracting parties that have completed the ratification process. More than 300 legal professionals and officials from 23 jurisdictions attended the session both online and in person.

Regional integration and cross-border disputes

The panel traced Hong Kong's mediation evolution – from the 2007 Policy Address and the 2012 Financial Dispute Resolution Centre's "Mediate First, Arbitrate Next" framework to landmark legislation such as the Mediation Ordinance and Apology Ordinance. Discussion then focused on IOMed's role in resolving commercial disputes across the Greater Bay Area under the "one country, two systems, three jurisdictions" framework. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam highlighted efforts to harmonize mediator standards, while Teresa Cheng noted that "judicial confirmation" and synergies with the Singapore Convention ensure mediated settlements carry full legal weight.

Expanding global platforms and strategic future initiatives

Speaking on the sidelines, Teresa Cheng unveiled the vision behind the newly launched Global Series, emphasizing its role as a dynamic, livestreamed platform designed to share knowledge on international law, international relations, and dispute resolution with the global community. "When we do that, we do not just serve the audience here in the headquarters, but we also aim to serve the international community," Cheng said.

Looking ahead, Cheng outlined the organization's plans for the coming months. In November, IOMed will host specialized capacity-building programs at its Wan Chai headquarters focusing on state-to-state and investor-state dispute resolution for member states and key stakeholders. This will be followed on December 8 by its signature annual event, the IOMed Forum, themed "Mediation for Peace and Prosperity: The New Frontier," which will bring together prominent global keynote speakers to discuss developments in peaceful conflict resolution.