Winston Peters hits the world stage in group photo with APEC Foreign and Trade ministers in Vietnam

Winston Peters has made his first appearance on the world stage as Foreign Minister in the new Labour-led coalition Government, lining up for a group photo with ministers from the 21 APEC nations at their summit in Vietnam.

The New Zealand First leader, who's also Deputy Prime Minister, was joined by Trade Minister David Parker for the photo opportunity as ministerial meetings get underway a in Da Nang.

High on the agenda for Mr Peters and Mr Parker over the last two days has been ground work on the TPP trade deal which could be progressed at APEC.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is on her way to Vietnam.

Trade, China and immigration will be on the agenda for the new Prime Minister.

She will meet the other 10 leaders of the TPP agreement tomorrow and there is some hope from supporters that the leaders will agree to progress the deal and push for a signing next year.

However Ms Ardern and some other leaders are likely to push for some last minute changes, particularly in New Zealand's case around the issue of multinational investment rules known as the ISDS, or Investor State Dispute Settlement. This is a system through which investors can sue countries for alleged discriminatory practices.

While the TPP will be a big feature for New Zealand at APEC, much of the focus of the world will be on US President Donald Trump who's due to arrive tomorrow. 

Mr Trump is expected to outline a new American strategy for the Indo-Pacific region. How that's perceived, particularly by rival China, will be crucial.

Ms Ardern will hold meetings with around nine of the leaders at APEC and the ASEAN summit that follows in the Philippines, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, China's Premier  Li Keqiang and the leaders of Vietnam and the Philippines.

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