Yiwu’s Foreign Mediator Shares Secrets of China’s Win-Win Governance

Imagine a city where entrepreneurs from Nigeria, traders from Iran, and dreamers from India all converge under one sky . Welcome to Yiwu City in Zhejiang Province – China’s bustling hub of cross-cultural commerce and collaboration. Here, the People’s Mediation Committee for Foreign-related Disputes isn’t just a bureaucratic institution – it’s a melting pot of global perspectives.

The Art of Bridging Divides

Meet Sushil Kumar Agrawal, a ''foreign mediator'' who’s spent eight years untangling disputes in this vibrant city. His toolkit? Compromise, cultural respect, and what he calls ''the art of renegotiation.''

''Mediation is all about win-win – finding that common ground where everyone walks away feeling heard,'' Agrawal told CGTN during a recent interview.

Why Yiwu’s Model Works

As home to China’s first county-level foreign mediation body, Yiwu offers a blueprint for inclusive governance:

• Cultural ambassadors like Agrawal bridge language and tradition gaps
• Dispute resolution focuses on mutual benefit over punitive measures
• Foreign residents become active participants in social harmony

With over 15,000 international residents, Yiwu proves that China’s governance model can adapt to globalization’s complexities – one handshake at a time.

Reference(s):

We Talk: Governance in China through the eyes of a 'foreign mediator'

cgtn.com