Moscow (CNN) Russian President Vladimir Putin capped a week of high-profile diplomacy on Friday, when he appeared at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing -- and received an especially warm welcome from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"President Putin is a good friend and an old friend to Chinese people," Xi said. "And he is my closest friend."

Friendship was also on the agenda in Putin's summit meeting Thursday in the Russian city of Vladivostok with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In Vladivostok, Putin positioned himself as an essential broker for resolving the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, and as a prominent player on the world stage.

Speaking to reporters after the summit, Putin said he would relay the results of the summit to Xi -- as well as to the Trump administration.

"Of course, I will speak tomorrow in Beijing with the leadership of the People's Republic of China, but we will also openly and frankly discuss today's meeting with the American leadership," he said. "There are no secrets here, Russia's position is always open, there are no conspiracies."

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