China's President Xi Jinping drew the short straw this year to host President Barack Obama and other world leaders at the latest APEC summit
The gathering saw China's president and Japan's prime minister take a major step in easing more than two years of high tensions with an ice-breaking meeting during the Asia-Pacific conference.
But with so many global leaders in the same place, at the same time, there are bound to be a few bumps along the way...
APEC Summit
"More comfortable than being topless on a horse, right?"(01 of13)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin admires his new threads as he's greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
But Tony, we've only just met... a simple handshake will do!(02 of13)
Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott 'goes in for the kiss' with Chinese President Xi Jinping (credit:GREG BAKER via Getty Images)
"If I don't look he won't see me!"(03 of13)
President Barack Obama pretends to notice something really, really interesting just as Russian President Vladimir Putin walks past (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"Sorry, Vlad, I only give the black jackets to those with a personal net worth of more than $20 billion. Next year." (04 of13)
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping arrive for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit banquet at the National Aquatics Centre. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
Live long and prosper(05 of13)
Members of the Star Trek Enterprise are pictured front L to R: Vietnam's President Truong Tan Sang, Angélica Rivera, and husband, Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto , Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana Widodo, US President Barack Obama, South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye, Peru's President Ollanta Humala, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha and his wife Naraporn; (and pictured second row, L to R) Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Bronagh Key and her husband New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, Akie Abe and her husband Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Laureen Harper and her husband Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and his wife Lynda May Babao, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, Taiwanese envoy to APEC summit Vincent Siew and his wife Susan Chu pose for for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping for a 'family photo' at the Beijing National Aquatics Center in the Chinese capital on November 10, 2014. Top leaders and ministers of the 21-member APEC are here for the summit from November 7 to 11. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
"They told us the Arsenal game would be on"(06 of13)
Journalists watch U.S. President Barack Obama speak on a monitor screen during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Beijing, China on Monday, Nov. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) (credit:Aaron Favila/AP)
There's something in the air... and Philippine President Benigno Aquino looks a little sheepish(07 of13)
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (L), Philippine President Benigno Aquino (C) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping for a 'family photo' at the Beijing National Aquatics Center in the Chinese capital on November 10, 2014. Top leaders and ministers of the 21-member APEC are here for the summit from November 7 to 11. (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
One of these Sultans is doing his own thing(08 of13)
Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping who is hosting a welcome dinner for APEC leaders at the Beijing National Aquatics Center in Beijing, Monday, Nov. 10, 2014. At right is Peng Liyuan, Xiâs wife. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"Fancy seeing you guys!"(09 of13)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie (L) walk past after posing for a photo with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyua. (credit:GREG BAKER via Getty Images)
So, about those disputed islands...(10 of13)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie (L) are welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping as they arrive for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit banquet at the National Aquatics Center in the Chinese capital on November 10, 2014. (credit:GREG BAKER via Getty Images)
The sound barrier may have just exploded (11 of13)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, and China's President Xi Jinping, right, shake hands during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Beijing, Monday, Nov. 10, 2014. An uneasy handshake Monday between Xi and Abe marked the first meeting between the two men since either took power, and an awkward first gesture toward easing two years of high tensions. (AP Photo/Kim Kyung-Hoon, Pool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Obama was a tad too eager to get on stage (12 of13)
President Barack Obama takes his place on stage as he waits for other world leaders to arrive during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit family photo, Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 in Beijing. Obama is in China to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Just to clarify...this is not the Beijing Olympics(13 of13)
Fireworks light up the Bird's Nest stadium as part of activities during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing, China, on Monday, Nov. 10, 2014. (credit:Aaron Favila/AP)