Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin chatted and stood side by side for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit's official photo. The US and Russian presidents had already had an exchange at the start of a leaders' meeting at the summit in Da Nang, Vietnam. As the talks were going on, Putin and Trump issued a joint statement on Syria, agreeing to continue joint efforts on fighting Islamic State until it is defeated. The two leaders also confirmed their commitment to Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and called on all parties to the Syrian conflict to take an active part in the Geneva political process. The statement on Syria was coordinated by the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson