Apec big shots take over Manila

The 21 leaders wave as they pose for the traditional "family photo" at the summit in the Philippines capital. Photo / AP

Leaders’ meeting dominates city as completed TPP negotiations cast rosier light on proceedings.

The Apec leaders' retreat in Manila was about to get under way.

Just a brief photo opportunity first, of the 21 leaders sitting at their round table before getting down to business yesterday.

John Key, glasses on the end of his nose, texting away nineteen to the dozen on his iPhone; Barack Obama chewing somewhat impatiently; Justin Trudeau testing out his translation head-set; Malcolm Turnbull inspecting the flash new pen; and Shinzo Abe just contemplating.

It's called a retreat but it was in the heart of Manila, at the Philippines International Convention Centre.

The city has been transformed into an urban desert, with the forebearance of its hospitable population.

Obama's people took over a hotel on the waterfront and several kilometres around it, including a portable x-ray machine for cars. He hosted a "TPP family photo" at his hotel to celebrate the conclusion of the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose security staff won't let him near water, opted for a hotel rated 3.5 stars by TripAdvisor travellers.

The previous night's gala dinner for leaders was within the urban desert, at the gigantic Mall of Asia.

Key and other male leaders turned out tastefully in cream "barong tagalong", traditional shirts. The two women leaders, Michele Bachelet of Chile and Park Geun-hye of South Korea, wore variations on the theme.

Key spent some time talking to Trudeau, Canada's dashing new Prime Minister, who the NZ PM declared yesterday was "very tall".

Making his entrance on to the global stage like a self-conscious Hugh Grant, Trudeau had social media all a-twitter.

Some sections of the media engaged in an Apec "hottie" contest, pitting Trudeau against Mexico's Enrique Pena Nieto.

Host Benigno Aquino didn't foot it on an especially harsh Twitter post by PULPOLitika. Nor did Key.

But New Zealand is very much the poster child for free trade and in Apec terms that makes Key an attractive commodity.

For years, Apec's Bogor goals set in 1994 (free trade by 2010 for developed countries and 2020 for developing countries) have been derided.

Each leaders summit has been a chance to scoff at how far short the reality has been from the targets.

The conclusion of the TPP last month by 12 countries - more than half the Apec members - changes that and the mindset of its members.

It makes the goal of an Apec-wide Free Trade Agreement of the Asia Pacific look achievable.

TPP is not a product of Apec but it has a stronger association with it than other deals because milestones have been announced at Apecs.

The first big one was when the United States announced it was going to join negotiations of the P4 - New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei and Chile. The US brought Peru, Australia and Vietnam to the table too.

That was in Peru in 2008, and it was Key's first Apec as New Zealand Prime Minister.

Next year, it is back there again.