The most exciting thing that took place at last November's G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, was a series of photo-ops involving world leaders clutching koalas.

It was part of a tourism play carried out by Australian authorities on the sidelines of the gathering, which convenes dignitaries from the world's 20 most important economies.

Cuddling koalas, not shirt-fronting ... Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Russia's President Vladimir Putin cuddle koalas before the start of the first G20 meeting on November 15, 2014 in Brisbane. Credit:Getty Images

The summit's diplomatic wranglings and tedious joint statements have faded from memory, but we'll always have President Obama holding Jimbelung, a cuddly, eucalyptus-munching marsupial.