Chief Executive John Lee today met senior officials from foreign governments attending the Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed).

Mr Lee met Switzerland’s Federal Councillor & Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Justice & Attorney General Pila Niningi and Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

Welcoming them to the signing ceremony, Mr Lee said Hong Kong is pleased to contribute to and serve the successful establishment and operation of the IOMed.

He outlined that upon its establishment, the IOMed will provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services for international disputes.

On economic and trade co-operation, the Chief Executive said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations with different countries.

In the face of emerging unilateralism and protectionism, Mr Lee emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will remain steadfast in maintaining the city's status as a free port and pursuing free trade policies, ensuring the free flow of goods, capital and information, and attracting enterprises from around the world to explore trading and investment opportunities in Hong Kong.

He highlighted that as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, Hong Kong is the only city that enjoys both "the China advantage" and "the global advantage". He invited enterprises from all countries to leverage Hong Kong's platform to explore overseas and Mainland markets.