STORY: Chinese, Ethiopian diplomats call for establishing int'l mediation organization
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 24, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:54
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the briefing event
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MA XINMIN, Director-general of Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Foreign Ministry
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MA XINMIN, Director-general of Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Foreign Ministry
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NEGUS KEBEDE, Director-general for Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Countries' Affairs of Ethiopian Foreign Ministry

STORYLINE:

Chinese and Ethiopian diplomats have called for joining hands to establish the world's first intergovernmental legal organization for mediation to pave the way for a peaceful and prosperous world.
   
The call came during the first briefing event on the China-initiated International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), which was held on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, attracting many high-ranking officials, scholars, and diplomats from various African countries.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MA XINMIN, Director-general of Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Foreign Ministry
"After nearly three years of joint collaboration, we have made commendable progress in bringing IOMed to fruition. It is with great pride that I share how this initiative has continued to gain momentum, attracting more and more supporters along the way."

Being an initiative owned by the Global South, the IOMed is set to be the first intergovernmental organization dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. So far, IOMed has brought together 19 countries, among which 10 are from Africa, representing more than two billion people worldwide, according to the briefing.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MA XINMIN, Director-general of Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Foreign Ministry
"As the world's first international legal organization devoted to mediation, the IOMed is committed to resolving international disputes through mediation, adhering to the principle of peaceful resolution."
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NEGUS KEBEDE, Director-general for Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Countries' Affairs of Ethiopian Foreign Ministry
"I want to take this moment to commend the People's Republic of China for its unwavering commitment to facilitating the negotiations on the draft conventions for IOMed. These efforts are not just about diplomacy, but are crucial steps towards building a more peaceful, cooperative and harmonious world order."
   
Proposed by China in 2022, IOMed is set to be a global public good for rule of law that will provide a new platform for the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. 

The IOMed Preparatory Office was set up in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, in February 2023. 

The organization is expected to be established around the end of 2025, according to the briefing.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)