With the APEC summit underway in the Philippines, leaders from some of the world's most powerful countries have gathered in Manila to talk trade, development and economy.

But there's a decidedly different summit discussion playing out on social media, spawned by the attendance of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto — which world leader is more attractive?

The debate is centred around the hashtag #APEChottie, which first took off on Twitter in the Philippines Tuesday morning, though it has now spread globally.

Many Twitter users are billing Trudeau as an endearing "Canadian bae", while Pena Nieto is being pegged as the Mexican papi, or father.

me when i saw mexican papi and canadian bae 😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://t.co/c7Cr9Keuq0">pic.twitter.com/c7Cr9Keuq0</a> —@cindereian

Sure, it's an unconventional way of getting people to pay attention to the APEC proceedings...

3am thoughts. 😃😄😘😍 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APECtado?src=hash">#APECtado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEC2015?src=hash">#APEC2015</a> ctto <a href="https://t.co/BB3eWnHWi7">pic.twitter.com/BB3eWnHWi7</a> —@Kams_28

These two leaders make me feel young and happy! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> —@j27366

... but it's got people talking. The popularity of the hashtag took quite a few people by surprise.

This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> hashtag is downright embarrassing. —@mymimosas

This tweet roughly translates into "My face when I discovered this hashtag."

mi cara cuando descubri estos hashtags: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamPenaNieto?src=hash">#TeamPenaNieto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://t.co/qpc4yaUWns">pic.twitter.com/qpc4yaUWns</a> —@Watanabex

Many swooned for Mexico's papi Pena Nieto...

Me in front of Enrique Nieto <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://t.co/6HeHZ2lTIB">pic.twitter.com/6HeHZ2lTIB</a> —@itsbeben11

Seeing Prez Enrique with his son for the first time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shet?src=hash">#shet</a> <a href="https://t.co/JZbPXCUaV4">pic.twitter.com/JZbPXCUaV4</a> —@denimgege

...but a rough count of the hashtag support showed more were in favour of Canada's 'bae'.

Trudeau's physical appearance has been largely talked about in the international press since he won the election in October.

The Mirror, a UK-based newspaper, even ran a piece titled "Is Justin Trudeau the sexiest politician in the world?"

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APECBae?src=hash">#APECBae</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustinTrudeau?src=hash">#JustinTrudeau</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CanadianBae?src=hash">#CanadianBae</a> <a href="https://t.co/DF23d1CfU4">pic.twitter.com/DF23d1CfU4</a> —@joshdalandun

This is so tumblr Why hello there <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://t.co/f1NlPYvT8r">pic.twitter.com/f1NlPYvT8r</a> —@laheeeyy

PRINCE ERIC IS REAL!!!!!!!!! 😍😍😍😍 OMG <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APECHOTTIE?src=hash">#APECHOTTIE</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y9kmTtuSAt">pic.twitter.com/Y9kmTtuSAt</a> —@VIAtnam

Some had other ideas in mind for the 'hottie' of the summit.

That's a photo of host leader Benigno Aquino III, the president of the Philippines.

Through all that admiration, there were some naysayers, 'disgusted' by the 'madness' of it all.

Instead of using the space and airtime on the benefits of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEC2015?src=hash">#APEC2015</a>, Filipinos are more intrugued by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CelebrityMentality?src=hash">#CelebrityMentality</a> —@PilosopoTasy0

Disgusted on the news about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> Seriously, is that your only concern and not what happened in the meeting? *pissed* —@sameerahlacson

The whole <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> madness disgusts me. There are so many other things that actually matter but nope. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pilipinas?src=hash">#pilipinas</a> —@madeleinecruz

The best way to sum it up? Overwhelming and confusing.

I feel so trash <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> <a href="https://t.co/TwrLioBuzI">pic.twitter.com/TwrLioBuzI</a> —@sehxnamja

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChottie?src=hash">#APEChottie</a> pala read it as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/APEChipotle?src=hash">#APEChipotle</a> —@paolovalmonte

The APEC leaders summit continues in the Philippines until Thursday, while the APEC CEO Summit wraps up Wednesday.