Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations' leaders and spouses pose for a family photo at Beijing National Aquatics Center
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations' leaders and spouses pose for a family photo at Beijing National Aquatics Center, or the Water Cube, in Beijing, November 10, 2014. (Front row L to R) Vietnam's President Truong Tan Sang, Angelica 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, U.S. 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; (Back 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 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. REUTERS/China Daily

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's promise to "shirtfront" Russian President Vladimir Putin over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 has taken a backseat. Both leaders are attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing. According to reports, Mr Abbott and Mr Putin are expected to be in a separate meeting for closed bilateral talks. The Russian leader will also be in Brisbane for the G20 summit next week.

Mr Abbott told media that the discussion on Moscow's response to MH17 is just another issue to be included in discussions in future top-level international summits. He said that conversations with Mr Putin are only part of the agenda. He revealed that Russia has declared it will do everything it can to bring justice to the MH17 victims. Mr Abbott said it was good of Russia to say that but he will be seeking the assurance of Mr Putin.

Mr Abbott has stepped back on his vow to confront Mr Putin as he only promised to have "robust discussions" with Mr Putin when he arrived in Beijing. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had defended the Australian leader's use of the term "shirtfront" but it only drew criticism from the opposition, according to The Guardian.

Labour party leader Bill Shorten said the prime minister may have "overreached" when he made the shirtfront remark. He added that he does not think Mr Abbott knows what "shirtfronting" meant. He urged the prime minister to get answers over the MH17 tragedy which killed 298 people including 38 Australian citizens.

Meanwhile, Mr Abbott may have been put in an awkward situation when he was positioned close to Mr Putin in a "family photo" wearing the traditional Chinese dress in the gathering of world leaders in Beijing. In a report by news.com.au, it was the first time the two leaders were seen in close proximity since the downing of MH17.

Mr Putin has recently blamed Ukraine for obstructing the crash site investigation. Reports said that while most of the victims have been identified, not all remains and belongings of the victims have been recovered as investigators are often hindered from accessing the crash site.

The Russian leader caused tensions when he insisted that pro-Russia separatist rebels were not responsible for the obstructing investigators. Mr Putin told Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak that the rebels were not the ones doing the shooting and blamed the various military groups fighting under Ukraine officials.