Tony Abbott's close encounter with Vladimir Putin at APEC leaders' portrait World leaders don Chinese silks Tony Abbott initially looked a little lost as he joined world leaders in Chinese national dress for the traditional APEC summit photo. PT0M54S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-3k1i6 620 349 November 11, 2014 - 10:49AM Prime Minister Tony Abbott is likely to formally meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the APEC Summit on Tuesday, after the pair had a close encounter during the leaders' group photo in Beijing. In keeping with the APEC custom, the leaders donned the so-called "silly shirts" that are designed for the Heads of State by the host country for the "family photo" of all leaders attending the summit. Prime Minister Tony Abbott looks down at Russian President Vladimir Putin during the APEC leader's photo with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (top left), Philippines President Benigno Aquino (bottom left), Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak (top right) and China President Xi Jinping (bottom right). The outfit this year was a traditional Chinese silk shirt in dark purple and blue colours. Mr Abbott at first struggled to find his place in the line up but eventually found his position next to his political soulmate - Canada's conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper - but, awkwardly, directly behind President Putin. The leaders avoided making any eye contact although Mr Abbott was photographed glancing towards the Russian leader, who he is likely to meet on Tuesday afternoon, Australian time. Prime Minister Tony Abbott and other APEC leaders wave. The pair is expected to meet on the sidelines at the APEC leaders' retreat to discuss Russia's role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which killed 38 people who called Australia home. Australia believes Russia had a role in arming separatists in Eastern Ukraine with the missile that was used to shoot down the passenger plane in July. Mr Abbott initially promised to "shirt-front" Mr Putin but has dropped his tough talk as the date of his first face to face encounter neared. Prime Minister Tony Abbott with APEC Leaders. "I'm going to shirt-front Mr Putin, you bet you are, you bet I am," Mr Abbott said in October. But ahead of their meeting, Mr Abbott considerably softened his tone and praised Moscow for promising to help bring the perpetrators of the MH17 atrocity to justice and said he would be "looking for an assurance" that was still the Kremlin's intent. Mr Abbott will mark Remembrance Day at 11am Australian time at the Australian embassy in Beijing with his New Zealand counterpart, Prime Minister John Key. Prime Minister Tony Abbott with APEC Leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. He is also scheduled to meet the presidents of Mexico and South Korea.