The International Mediation Institute, headquartered in Hong Kong, China, has officially opened for business. The first Secretary General of the institution, Zheng Ruohua, recently stated that the existence of the International Mediation Institute and the services it provides can help bridge cultural differences in dispute resolution, provide new options for disputing parties, and balance dispute resolution and relationship maintenance. As a supplement to existing international dispute resolution services, the establishment of the International Mediation Institute fills the gap in the mechanism of international mediation, aiming to mediate disputes between countries, between countries and foreign investors, and international commercial disputes according to the wishes of all parties, in line with practical needs. ”Zheng Ruohua said. Litigation and arbitration have strong adversarial and "lose or win" judicial characteristics, and have their specific application scenarios and inherent value. She emphasized that "mediation is not meant to replace litigation or arbitration, but rather to seek a mutually acceptable solution based on the core concept of reconciliation, without judging right or wrong. Together with litigation and arbitration, it constitutes a different approach to dispute resolution." When it comes to the importance of this option, Zheng Ruohua gave an example to illustrate that disputes between countries often involve neighboring countries, and maintaining good relations with each other is very important. Mediation can help countries coexist peacefully; The international investment cycle is relatively long, usually ranging from 10 to 30 years. Resolving disputes through adversarial procedures can hinder project progress, while mediation can eliminate differences and maintain the relationship between the two parties. For example, by adjusting investment mechanisms and franchise agreements, projects can be ensured to continue to advance, achieving a win-win situation; The resolution of international commercial disputes follows the same principle. The countries in the global South urgently need low-cost and efficient dispute resolution mechanisms, especially those that tend to achieve a 'win-win' situation through reconciliation, while attaching importance to the process and results of independently deciding dispute resolution. ”She pointed out that mediation is based on the principle of voluntariness and is highly flexible. Each party can design an exclusive process according to the characteristics of the dispute, fully respecting the wishes of the parties and meeting the needs of the international community. Article 33 of the United Nations Charter clearly stipulates that mediation is one of the priority methods for the peaceful resolution of international disputes, but for many years, there has been no intergovernmental legal organization in this field. The establishment of the International Mediation Institute embodies the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and is an important rule of law public good provided for improving global governance. As the initiator and host country of the International Mediation Institute, China's role has been highly recognized, sincerely thanked, and actively responded to by more and more countries. China has brought the once overlooked dispute resolution method of 'mediation' back into the perspective of various countries and received attention from the international community, "said Zheng Ruohua. The core feature of this institution is the equal participation of all signatory and contracting states, and in all previous meetings, countries have always adhered to the principle of 'national equality', mutual respect, full consultation, and equal decision-making. This spirit of consultation, co construction, and sharing runs through the formulation of conventions, establishment of codes of conduct, and various affairs processes. As a Hong Kong resident, Zheng Ruohua is very grateful to the country for setting up the headquarters of the International Mediation Institute in Hong Kong. She stated that Hong Kong is an international metropolis with a pioneering spirit and many unique advantages, making it a suitable choice for hosting such international institutions. She looks forward to contributing to the development of these institutions. Although mediation does not directly rely on litigation procedures, the rule of law is its important pillar. She pointed out that relying on the institutional dividend of "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong not only plays the role of a "super contact" and a "super value-added person", but also has a sound legal environment, which has laid a solid foundation for the stable operation of the International Mediation Court. Zheng Ruohua believes that the establishment of the headquarters of the International Court of Mediation in Hong Kong by the government will help promote "mediation" as a dispute resolution method to the world and also assist Hong Kong in building a "city of mediation". She stated that as a newly established international organization, the primary task of the International Mediation Institute is to improve its internal systems and infrastructure, laying a solid foundation for future development. At the same time, we should focus on promoting two tasks: first, to enhance our visibility, and second, to carry out capacity building and talent cultivation, including cognitive popularization, application ability training, and mediation talent team building. In the long run, we will focus on building a mediation ecosystem. We look forward to more countries signing and approving the convention in the future, so that this dynamic international organization can continue to grow and develop