US Secretary of State John Kerry met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Beijing on Saturday (November 8), as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings get underway in the Chinese capital ahead of the main leaders' summit next week.

Kerry shook hands with Lavrov before the two sides sat down to talks.

Lavrov's trip to China comes amidst new accusations from Ukraine that Russian tanks have entered its territory. In an exchange with a journalist present at the handshake, Lavrov said he had no information about Ukraine's statement.

Kerry later met Bishop and Marsudi for discussions.

Kerry is heading the Department of State's delegation to APEC's ministerial meetings, ahead of the leaders' summit attended by U.S. President Barack Obama next week.

APEC groups 21 economies which account for 40 percent of the world's population, 54 percent of its economic output a