Hong Kong’s strategic geographic location, stable environment and trusted judicial system — bolstered by the support of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) — are key draws for international parties seeking to settle disputes in the city, a veteran mediator said.
Wolf von Kumberg, a member of the Conciliator Panel of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, was among the hundreds of pundits attending the Global Mediation Summit, organized by IOMed in Hong Kong on Friday.
Speaking to China Daily on the sidelines of the event, von Kumberg spoke highly of Hong Kong’s competitive edge as a global mediation hub.
As an independent arbitrator and mediator, von Kumberg said that a mediator’s core skills lie in engaging with involved parties to identify their key issues and requirements.
“You act as a bridge between the parties to allow them to be able to communicate with each other,” von Kumberg said.
Because Hong Kong is at the crossroads of Asia and is renowned for its robust business environment and legal framework, von Kumberg said that disputing parties feel comfortable and confident that their cases will be handled properly.
“They feel secure coming here,” he said. This is a definitive draw, particularly for parties from volatile regions who prefer a highly stable venue, he added.
Another major advantage for the city is hosting IOMed, the world’s first intergovernmental legal body dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation.
Launched in October, IOMed now has 13 contracting members and 41 signatory countries. Earlier this month, it successfully settled a maritime dispute involving parties from China and Singapore.
“It’s a unique institution because no other institution focuses simply on mediation,” von Kumberg said.
During the summit, von Kumberg spoke on one of three panels, joining three other industry veterans to share experiences in mediating disputes and bridging cultural gaps between international parties.
Serving as the concluding event of Mediation Week 2026, the daylong summit gathered more than 400 participants from 48 countries or regions.
Reta Alemu Nega, an adviser to the African Union Commission, said he wants more people to know about IOMed’s work, echoing the panel discussions that said mediation is about finding a common interest.
“I try to bring it back to Africa,” the expert told China Daily. “IOMed is not about Asia or Africa — it’s about the world.”
Zhang Yongliang, a legal practitioner with seven years of experience in nonlitigation dispute resolution in Shenzhen, attended the summit to track industry trends and network with counterparts.
Zhang said that with a growing number of Chinese mainland companies expanding overseas, international disputes are inevitable in the context of global economic integration, making the promotion of mediation increasingly vital.
He praised Hong Kong’s robust mediation framework, describing the city as being “at the forefront of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”.
Sharing his idea of what makes a mediation successful, Zhang said mediators must be neutral and get to the heart of the contradiction.
“It’s basically just being a peacemaker,” Zhang added.
Roys Zhang contributed to this story.
Contact the writers at williamxu@chinadailyhk.com