IOMed marks first year with 47 signatories
Membership in the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), the first treaty-based intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to mediation that is headquartered in Wan Chai, has grown to 47 signatory states from 37 since its inauguration in October, its secretary-general said on Thursday. Speaking at the Belt and Road Summit, IOMed chief Teresa Cheng said the organisation now has 16…
The International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) has marked its first year with 47 signatory states, up from 37 when it was established in October. Secretary-General Teresa Cheng announced this expansion at the Belt and Road Summit. All 16 contracting states of IOMed are actively involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Notable attendees included leaders from Uzbekistan, Laos, Kazakhstan, Timor-Leste, and Pakistan.
IOMed handles three types of disputes: state-to-state, international commercial, and investor-state mediation. An early case involved a maritime dispute between a Chinese party and a Singaporean party, which was successfully resolved through IOMed's mediation process. Cheng emphasized that IOMed's work supports all five aspects of Belt and Road connectivity: policy, infrastructure, trade, finance, and people-to-people exchanges.
She described mediation as a means to prevent disputes from escalating and to foster long-term relationships based on mutual benefits rather than zero-sum thinking. IOMed aims to serve as a lubricant for Belt and Road cooperation, transforming potential roadblocks into minor inconveniences. The organisation plans to host dialogue series and capacity-building activities for member states, as well as explore specialized panels for disputes in sectors like commodities, aviation, and shipping.
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