2026.06.05
On June 2–3, 2026, the Second International Peace Mediation Forum was held in Beijing. Under the theme "Regional Conflicts and Global Mediation Coordination" the forum was organized by Grandview Institution(GVI) and supported by Crisis Management Initiative – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation (CMI), the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), the Center for Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macao at Shenzhen University, and the Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations (with special thanks to Mr. Zhang Haohui, Chief President of the Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations, for his generous support of this forum). Distinguished delegates and guests from international organizations, embassies in China, think tanks and universities both at home and abroad, as well as professional mediation institutions, gathered together to engage in in-depth discussions on the new developments, emerging challenges, and innovative approaches facing international peace mediation today.
This year's forum continued the central theme of the inaugural edition—"International Experience and China's Role"—while building upon the introduction of international peace mediation concepts, case studies, and best practices. On one hand, the forum examined the role of emerging institutional frameworks, such as the IOMed, in global governance; on the other hand, it explored potential avenues for China-Europe cooperation in the field of international crisis mediation.
The main forum, held on the morning of June 2, was themed "Evolving multilateral mediation in the face of global uncertainties" Discussions centered around how peace mediation can avoid being instrumentalized by geopolitics, how different countries and institutions can strengthen complementary cooperation, and how mediation interfaces with ceasefire negotiations, crisis management, and peacekeeping efforts. Participating guests concurred that, against the backdrop of a complex and shifting international landscape, peace mediation must not only uphold the fundamental principles of neutrality, impartiality, and respect for the will of the parties involved, but also place greater emphasis on coordination among various mechanisms to avoid duplication of efforts and fragmentation of resources.
Ren Libo, President of GVI, and Janne Taalas, CEO of CMI, delivered opening remarks at the event. Sophie Muller, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in China; Krystyna Marty Lang, Ambassador of Switzerland to China; and Boris Kelecevic, Head of Regional Delegation for East Asia (ad interim) at International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) delivered keynote speeches.
The panel discussions featured contributions from Phil Goff, former Foreign Minister, former Defense Minister, and former Leader of Labour Party of New Zealand; Pavlo Klimkin, former Foreign Minister of Ukraine; Sun Jin, Deputy Secretary-General of IOMed; Mikko Kinnunen, Finnish Ambassador to China; Mockbul Ali OBE, Senior Adviser and Deputy Executive Director of Inter Mediate(IM); and Katrina Abatis, Lead for Asian Affairs in the Dialogue Department of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy(GCSP). The forum was moderated by Raymond Huo, former chairperson of the Justice Committee, New Zealand Parliament, and Mao Jing, Director of the European Studies Center at GVI.
Sub-forum I focused on the future role and responsibility of the IOMed in global governance, with particular attention to its positioning, functions, and development prospects as a complementary institutional effort in international mediation. Participants observed that, against the backdrop of rising international conflicts, intensifying geopolitical competition, and mounting pressures on traditional multilateral mechanisms, the international community's demand for peace mediation is steadily growing. The establishment of IOMed offers a new institutional option for the international dispute resolution system—serving as a "third option" alongside judicial and arbitral mechanisms, and providing a more flexible, inclusive, low-confrontational, and cost-effective pathway for resolving international disputes.
Throughout the discussions, multiple guests elaborated on the unique advantages of mediation from legal, diplomatic, and regional perspectives. Compared with litigation and arbitration, mediation places greater emphasis on the will of the parties involved, relationship restoration, interest balancing, and long-term cooperation, thereby helping to reduce confrontation while enhancing the acceptability and sustainability of solutions. At the same time, experts also pointed out that the effectiveness of mediation hinges crucially on trust-building, procedural credibility, a professional roster of mediators, and the enforcement of mediated outcomes. Looking ahead, IOMed will need to further enhance its professionalism and internationalization, expand the diversity of its mediator pool, build a track record of successful cases, and strengthen the international community's recognition of its institutional value and practical capabilities.
Participants also engaged in discussions on coordination and cooperation among mediation institutions. As countries such as Japan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Italy, along with relevant organizations, place greater emphasis on peace mediation, an increasingly diverse ecosystem is taking shape in the field of international mediation. While this trend is conducive to expanding the range of options available to parties in conflict, it may also give rise to overlapping mechanisms, fragmented resources, and even platform competition. Therefore, mediation institutions of all types should strengthen information sharing, capacity building, and case-based collaboration, building on their respective strengths to form complementary synergies.
The discussion featured contributions from Sun Jin, Deputy Secretary-General of IOMed; Ilango Karuppannan, former Ambassador of Malaysia and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Raymond Huo, former chairperson of the Justice Committee of the New Zealand Parliament; Zou Pingxue, Director of the Center for basic laws of Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Region at Shenzhen University; Zhang Yun, Professor at the School of International Relations, Nanjing University; Yao Ying, Project Manager of China Program at the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD); and Simone Ceresa, Co-Founder of the 3IM Mediation Network in Italy. The session was moderated by Janne Taalas, CEO of CMI.
Sub-forum II was themed "China-Europe cooperation in international peace mediation against the backdrop of faltering multilateralism and increasing unilateralism, and the resulting transformation of international landscape" with discussions centering on the evolving roles of Chinese and European actors in peace mediation, the foundations for cooperation, practical obstacles, and pathways forward. Participants observed that, in the context of growing international conflicts, mounting pressures on multilateralism, and the resurgence of unilateralism and power politics, China and Europe share significant common interests in upholding multilateralism, international rule of law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. There is both a necessity and ample room for both sides to strengthen cooperation in crisis mediation.
The discussion suggested that China-Europe cooperation should proceed from areas of common ground rather than from differences. While the two sides diverge on values, political systems, and other issues, they share broad common interests in upholding the principles of the UN Charter, supporting multilateralism, opposing disorderly power politics, addressing climate change, maintaining global trade order, and preventing conflict spillover. Experts emphasized that cooperation between China and Europe in peace mediation should not aim for complete alignment, but rather seek the greatest common denominator on specific issues and promote conflict de-escalation and crisis management through pragmatic collaboration.
China-Europe mediation cooperation, however, continues to face real-world challenges. On the one hand, Europe's internal landscape comprises multiple layers of actors—including the EU, member states, non-governmental organizations, and professional mediation institutions—and whether Europe can form a unified voice externally and maintain strategic autonomy are important factors affecting China-Europe cooperation. On the other hand, China's practice of peace mediation is still evolving, and further exploration is needed on how to better integrate resources from government diplomacy, think tank platforms, professional institutions, and international organizations. Moreover, differences between the two sides in mediation philosophy, procedural design, legal traditions, and political culture may not only give rise to friction but could also serve as a foundation for complementary cooperation.
The discussion featured contributions from Phil Goff, former Foreign Minister, former Defense Minister, and former Leader of Labour Party of New Zealand; Di Dongsheng, Dean of the School of Global and Area Studies at Renmin University of China; Sun Jin, Deputy Secretary-General of IOMed; Zhang Qingmin, Director of the Department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs Management at the School of International Relations, Peking University; Janne Taalas, CEO of CMI; Wang Zheng, Director of Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Seton Hall University, USA; Mockbul Ali OBE, Senior Adviser and Deputy Executive Director at IM; Janel Galvanek, Head of the General Regional Peace Support at Berghof Foundation; and Simone Ceresa, Co-Founder of the 3IM in Italy. The Sub-forum was moderated by Ren Libo, President of GVI.
On June 3, the forum continued in the format of roundtable discussions. The Roundtable I, themed "Prospects of the Russia-Ukraine war and Space for Peace Mediation," featured in-depth exchanges on the current progress of negotiations, ceasefire arrangements, security guarantees for Ukraine, the reshaping of the European security architecture, and the potential roles that global actors—including China—might play. The Russia-Ukraine war has entered a phase of protractedness and increased complexity, and any sustainable peace arrangement will need to take into account security concerns, political realities, reconstruction needs, and adjustments to the regional order.
This roundtable featured contributions from Pavlo Klimkin, former Foreign Minister of Ukraine; Stryzhak Oleksandra, Research Fellow at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Mikko Kinnunen, Finnish Ambassador to China; Vebjørn Dysvik, Norwegian Ambassador to China; Michael Siebert, former Managing Director for Russia, Eastern partnership, Central Asia, Regional cooperation and OSCE Affairs at the European External Action Service (EEAS); Mikko Patokallio, Senior Manager of Eurasia programme at CMI; Ding Jianwei, former News Counsellor, Chinese embassy in Ukraine; Zhou Bo, Researcher at the Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University; Lü Xiaoyu, Associate Professor at the School of International Relations, Peking University; and Chen Qi, Director of the Center for China-U.S. Studies at Tsinghua University. The roundtable was moderated by Mao Jing, Director of the European Studies Center at GVI.
The Roundtable II, taking youth engagement in international peace mediation as its point of departure, addressed the theme "Digital Platforms and International Conflict Mediation-Information Power, Political Influence, and Governance Boundaries". Young scholars from universities and research institutions engaged in discussions on issues such as content moderation, algorithmic recommendations, and account management on social media platforms in the context of international conflicts. They analyzed how digital platforms influence the trajectory of conflicts at the factual level, and whether mediation institutions should identify and address the side effects of the information environment during their mediation efforts. This discussion provided valuable exploration into the development of youth engagement mechanisms in international peace mediation, and also brought the forum's agenda closer to the new realities of conflict governance in the digital age.
The roundtable discussion featured contributions from young scholars Pak Hyonju and Qiao Jieru from Peking University, Meili Vergnolle from Tsinghua University, and Zhang Meiniu from the University of International Relations. This discussion received commentary from Saana Keskitalo, Senior Manager for Multilateralism Affairs and Peacemaking Policy at CMI; Liu Yuechuan, Associate Professor at the School of Foreign Legal Studies, East China University of Political Science and Law; Katrina Abatis, Lead for Asian Affairs of Dialogue Department, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) ; Wang Zheng, Director of Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Seton Hall University, USA; and Chen Qi, Director of the Center for China-U.S. Studies at Tsinghua University. The roundtable was moderated by Zhang Danqiong, Associate Researcher at GVI.
The Roundtable III, themed "Regional and international mediation, its impact and lessons for next steps in the Cambodia-Thailand Conflict," focused on examining how different types of actors—including China, ASEAN, Europe, and independent mediation institutions—can engage in regional dispute management and conflict resolution. Regional conflict management requires not only leveraging the spontaneity of regional organizations and their advantage of familiarity with local conditions, but also the support of the international community when necessary. A positive interaction among formal mechanisms, informal channels, state actors, and professional mediation institutions can help de-escalation, build mutual trust, and promote sustainable peace.
The roundtable discussion featured contributions from Gao Fei, President of China Foreign Affairs University; Rong Ying, Chair Professor at Sichuan University and former Vice President of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS); Soeung Rathchavy, Cambodian Ambassador to China; Ilango Karuppannan, former Malaysian Ambassador and Adjunct Senior Fellow at RSIS, Singapore; Alex Virtanen, Head of Asian Affairs at CMI; Arianna Gazze, Senior Projects Director at IM; Kenji Kanasugi, Japanese Ambassador to China; and Akiko Horiba, Director of the Center for Mediation Support at Sasakawa Peace Foundation. The roundtable was moderated by Zhou Rong, Director of the Global South Studies Center at GVI.
The Roundtable IV focused on “Maritime peace and security: addressing maritime conflicts with lessons from the South China Sea, the Persian Gulf/Red Sea, and other cases.” Participants analyzed case studies from the South China Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Strait of Hormuz, among others, to examine the strategic importance of maritime chokepoints in international and regional relations, as well as how maritime spaces simultaneously serve as sources of tension, arenas for strategic competition, and platforms for cooperation. The prevention and mediation of maritime conflicts require the integrated application of international law, confidence-building measures, regional security mechanisms, and multilateral cooperation platforms. On issues such as the negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, the safety of global sea lanes, and security in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, all parties should strengthen communication and explore more pragmatic, inclusive, and sustainable pathways for maritime governance.
The roundtable discussion featured contributions from Luo Gang, Deputy Director of the Marine Rights and Law Research Office at the Institute of Marine Development Strategy, Ministry of Natural Resources; Ilango Karuppannan, former Malaysian Ambassador and Adjunct Senior Fellow at RSIS; Liu Xiaobo, Director of Maritime Studies Center at GVI; Zhang Yun, Professor at the School of International Relations, Nanjing University; Janel Galvanek, Head of General Regional Peace Support at Berghof Foundation; and Saana Keskitalo, Senior Manager for Multilateralism Affairs and Peacemaking Policy at CMI. The roundtable was moderated by Li Wei, Executive Deputy Director of Shaanxi Institute of International Studies.
The International Peace Mediation Forum is committed to fostering candid, professional, and constructive dialogue among Chinese and international parties on conflict prevention, crisis de-escalation, and peacebuilding. Looking ahead, the Forum will continue to track theoretical developments and practical innovations in international peace mediation, promote greater exchanges and mutual learning among countries, international organizations, regional mechanisms, professional institutions, and young scholars, and contribute further think tank strength to the improvement of global peace governance and the promotion of regional stability and international cooperation.
