Sartorial summit: APEC leaders show off local style
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit has been taking place annually for nearly three decades. During the summit, the 21 leaders take a "family photo" wearing traditional clothes of the host country.
Vietnam 2017: Hand shakes and silk shirts
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin wear traditional Vietnamese blue silk shirts at the 2017 APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam. The APEC sartorial tradition was started by US President Bill Clinton in 1993, who handed out leather bomber jackets like those worn by American fighter pilots, apparently to let his fellow VIPs feel relaxed amid the formalities of their meetings
Peru 2016: Waving hands and llikllas
In 2016, leaders of APEC member states met in Peru to discuss human capital development, upgrading small- and medium-sized enterprises, the development of a regional food market and regional economic integration. At the summit's end on November 20, they took a group photo wearing a shawl inspired by the "lliklla," a traditional Peruvian rectangular shoulder cloth worn in the Andean regions.
Indonesia 2013: Leaders, spouses in matching prints
The 2013 APEC summit, which took place in Indonesia, championed free and open trade and investment. Wearing Indonesia's traditional clothes, the leaders of APEC member countries poses for a group picture with their spouses in Nusa Dua, a resort island of Bali on October 7, 2013.
Singapore 2009: Baju melayu
In 2009, then world leaders Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, iIndonesian Prime Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, US President Barack Obama, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and tChinese President Hu Jintao (left to right) smile and wave exchanged at the APEC summit in Singapore on November 14. They wore shirts of the Singaporean traditional baju melayu style.
Peru 2008: Andean ponchos
Wearing traditional Peruvian ponchos, Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, top left, U.S. President George W. Bush, top center, Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet, top right, Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso, bottom left, and South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, bottom right, wave during the official group photo of the 2008 APEC summit, in Lima, Peru.
Vietnam 2006: Ao dai pastels
Wearing traditional "ao dai," former U.S. President George W. Bush, top row left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, top row center, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, top row right, Chinese President Hu Jintao, bottom row left, and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet wave during a group photo with leaders of the APEC summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, November 19, 2006.
South Korea 2005: Durumagi for China-Taiwan Relations
Leaders of APEC member countries donned a traditional Korean overcoat known as the "durumagi" for their 2005 family photo. The word means "closed all around." Most of the 21 Pacific Rim leaders opted for a pale blue or yellow version. Such parity is rare in the China-Taiwan relationship.
Chile 2004: Colorful Chilean ponchos
Former and current leaders of APEC member countries wear Chilean traditional ponchos as they pose for their official picture on November 21, 2004 in Santiago, Chile.
Shanghai 2001: Stylish silk coats
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a point to former US President George W. Bush as former Chinese President Jiang Zemin watches the festivities. All wear traditional style silk jackets in this shot from the APEC leader's summit in Shanghai, China, on October 21, 2001, taken during the family photo session.