Chinese chess and kimchi, popular in both China and the Republic of Korea, are vehicles for better ties for the two countries, Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday as he wrapped up a three-day visit to Seoul.

At a gathering in the ROK capital with youths from both countries, Li recalled his visit to the ROK as vice-premier in 2011, during which he watched young Chinese and Koreans making kimchi, a pickled cabbage dish, together.

"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," Li said. "It won't be long before the famous fermented Korean dish will be served on the dining tables of the Chinese."