During Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the Republic of Korea's capital, Seoul, he urged both the youths of China and the ROK to carry on their traditional friendship, encouraging them to be more innovative and cooperative than their predecessors.
"You're certain to create a better future than us," Li said, speaking before a gathering of the two groups during his three-day visit to the ROK.
Li also added that the popularity of Chinese chess and kimchi can be vital vehicles in strengthening the ties between the two.
Li recalled how he watched Chinese and Korean youths make kimchi, a pickled cabbage dish, together during a 2011 visit to the ROK when he was still vice premier.
"The ROK government has been hoping to export the traditional Korean food to China, and we are working on sanitary and quarantine standards for kimchi imports. It won't be long before the famous fermented Korean dish will be served on the dining tables of the Chinese," he said.
The premier also noted that especially among the young generation, "Chinese chess is also popular in both China and the ROK."
During his trip, China and the ROK have also reached agreement on a number of key issues, such as the cooperation between their respective development schemes and the boosting of their partnership on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Li also emphasized during a meeting with the ROK Prime Minister that building platforms for innovative cooperation between the two countries can help them achieve win-win results.
Li proposed that this can be attained by promoting partnership between enterprises of all sizes in China and the ROK, and by jointly creating an innovation park in the Chinese city of Chengdu.