New figures indicate trade between China and Latin America is growing. Ties between Beijing and South America have grown substantially over the past decade. CGTN's reporter Omar Khan spoke with one business about the trend.

Separated by nearly 20-thousand kilometers, the bustling metropolises throughout China and Latin America have rightfully overlooked distance as a factor when it comes to trade.

In the first four months of 2019, the southern Chinese province of Guangdong witnessed sizeable import and export growth across the board, with many parts of South America.

And for one entrepreneur from Uruguay based in Foshan, the vision is to create a platform that brings the two sides even closer on the business forefront.

JAVIER BAHUT VEGA CHINA COUNTRY MANAGER, ZONAMERICA "So they decided that they still wanted to come to this country and look for opportunities, but the model was going to be that we're going to be a business hub, and we're going to try and help companies from Latin America to do business in China, and to also help Chinese come to Latin America."

Javier Bahut Vega is behind business hub and semi-incubator platform Zonamerica. 

In just 18 months, the Uruguayan company has attracted some 30 businesses from Latin America, investing in various sectors throughout China.

Yet despite the current global economic turbulence, persuading companies from his native land to come to China instead of other locations, continues, to be compelling.

JAVIER BAHUT VEGA CHINA COUNTRY MANAGER, ZONAMERICA "I see that there is potential in this market for some segments. I think Chinese customers are willing and are interested in products from abroad. But they have to be unique products, products that bring value and products that are different from local ones. But other countries in Latin America or in Europe, they have even increased their trade with China. So I think it's possible that for some segments in some sectors that there might arise some opportunities because of this trade war, and some new suppliers will come from Latin America to China."

From a macro perspective, the two sides have come a long way. A range of goods and industries has grown to be the backbone of the two region's trade relationship.

DR. LIU CHUNSHENG CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMICS "Economic structures, production, and trade between China and Latin America complement each other quite well. Products brought into China from Latin America include minerals and raw materials. Exported products to Latin America include electronics and machinery equipment. From this, we can see that both markets match up quite well in terms of providing what each side needs."

OMAR KHAN GUANGZHOU, GUANGDONG PROVINCE "Total trade volume between China and Latin America started at a mere 17 billion US dollars in 2002. By last year, it reached a staggering 306 billion US dollars. So despite the fact that the first furthest capital cities from China all happen to be situated in Latin America, distance has, and seemingly never will be a deterrent for the two trade partners. Omar Khan, CGTN, Guangzhou."