[Answered] “Informal summits are seen as a platform for trust-building exercises.” In light of this statement critically examine the relevance and success of such informal summits in resolving bilateral issues.

In globalised world with increasing conflicts and disputes, world leaders try to negotiate various issues at various levels through formal and informal means. Various efforts are made to further the peace and stability between counties, through diplomatic efforts and talks. In recent times, informal summits and talks are emerged as a way to discuss and work out resolution for various issues at bilateral levels.

Relevance and significance of informal summits:

1. Informal summits help in exchanging views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening special and privileged Strategic Partnerships.
2. These act as a platform to discuss national developmental priorities and bilateral matters in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between two countries at highest levels.
3. Informal summits allow world leaders to speak freely, unconstrained by a pre-planned agendas.
4. The Idea of such meetings is to have an informal exchange, with the goal of not producing a pre-negotiated set of agreements, but to have clear communication at the leadership-level.
5. Multilateral summits like the G20 meeting don’t give leaders time to have protracted discussions and they can’t be substitutes for informal talks.
6. Formal summits involve months of minute diplomatic planning and choreography, and topics to be avoided during the discussions are often as important as those on the agenda. Informal summits lack such preparations and thus act as an instrument to openly talk about issues and perspectives without constraints.
7. By not setting expectations or deliverables, there is that much less pressure on the leaders.

Success of such informal summits:

1. Till now, such summits has worked. The informal meet has set up a new trend for leaders to meet ‘informally’ in order to know and understand each other better.
2. The meeting recent Sochi and Wuhan Summit has turned out to be a success and another step in ensuring strengthening of relations of India with Russia and China.
3. Informal summits have positive results in the long term, as during ‘official’ meetings, the atmosphere is often not favourable to get a deeper understanding.
4. The ‘informal’ summits has helped in reasserting the tradition of independent Indian diplomacy while avoiding a formal strategic tilt toward America’s adversaries.

Thus, informal summits are an important platform for resolving disputes and settling bilateral issues. These help in bringing nations close and help in making region stable and peaceful. It is not only an effective tool of high level diplomacy but also a way to express one’s concerns and interests more freely.