Brunei Signs Landmark Mediation Convention, Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Dispute Resolution

Hong Kong, The Gulf Observer: Brunei Darussalam has reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to peaceful resolution of international disputes by signing the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) on May 30 in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Representing Brunei at the signing ceremony was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong, marking the nation’s formal support for the world’s first intergovernmental legal body solely dedicated to international mediation.

Presided over by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the ceremony brought together dignitaries from Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, and Serbia, alongside representatives from over 20 international organisations, including the United Nations.

Chief Justice Chong was accompanied by Acting Chief Registrar Hajah Hazarena binti Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Jaya Dato Paduka Haji Hurairah and a senior judicial officer from the Supreme Court, underscoring Brunei’s strong institutional support for global mediation efforts.

On the sidelines, the Chief Justice held a bilateral meeting with Judge Hu Fang, Deputy Chief Judge of the Fourth Civil Division of China’s Supreme People’s Court, where both parties discussed judicial cooperation and areas of mutual legal interest.

The signing coincided with the Global Forum on International Mediation, which addressed critical topics including state-to-state mediation, and mediation in international investment and commercial disputes.

Brunei’s participation in both the forum and the founding of IOMed reflects its proactive stance in shaping international legal frameworks and its continued dedication to fostering peaceful, rule-based dispute resolution mechanisms on the global stage.