Belt and Road Summit: Hong Kong international mediation centre set to resolve project disputes, with preparatory work ‘to be finished in 2 years’
- Sun Jin, head of preparatory office of International Organisation for Mediation, says it met with officials, relevant countries within three months of opening
- He was speaking at Belt and Road Summit, where justice minister Paul Lam noted city’s unique role in initiative as ‘super connector’ thanks to common law system
Sun Jin, director general at the preparatory office of the International Organisation for Mediation, on Wednesday said that his team had organised a meeting with government officials and participating countries within three months of opening the centre.
“We are confident that with the strong support and cooperation of the participating countries, the goal set out in the joint statement to complete the elaboration of the [organisation’s] convention in around two years will be successfully achieved,” Sun said during the government-organised Belt and Road Summit.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave the organisation its blessing during the opening of the office in February, and called it part of the mainland’s efforts to promote world peace.
Announced last November, the international body was designed to capitalise on Hong Kong’s common law heritage, as well its expertise as a dispute resolution centre, to create an intergovernmental platform for resolving international disagreements.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed in February that at least nine countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, Serbia, Belarus, Sudan, Algeria and Djibouti, had signed a joint statement to sign up to the mediation centre.
The Post had learned during the preparatory office’s opening in February that the body was set to be headquartered in the city.