Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the APEC conference on Saturday (NZ time).

Held in Da Nang, Vietnam, the discussions will be focused on economic and trade issues.

Among the big names attending are US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canada's Justin Trudeau.

Mr Peters said he got along with Mr Putin "like I do with everyone - very well".

Russia is suddenly on New Zealand's radar again, given the Labour-NZ First coalition wants a free trade deal.

Mr Peters also met Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, to rekindle New Zealand's relationship.

He said he was seated next to Mr Lavrov at the APEC gala dinner, "which was very advantageous".

Mr Peters also sat with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and shared a glass of Oyster Bay sauvignon blanc.

Newshub.