Bolivians rally to defend democracy

Bolivian people gathered on Wednesday evening to demonstrate strong support for democracy, voicing their backing for President Luis Arce and condemning the actions of General Juan Jose Zuniga following an attempted coup d'etat in La Paz.

Nataly Chura, a local resident, highlighted the legitimacy of the current government and the president, who is often affectionately referred to as "Lucho."

"First, we must defend democracy. Because this is a totally legitimate government, elected by the people with 55 percent of the vote. We Bolivians voted to have peace in Bolivia. The fact that the military wants to cover their own dirty behavior has raised more questions for us. We will always defend democracy. Lucho had won. We are going to be here to have his back," said Chura.

Another resident, who wished to remain unnamed, reiterated the importance of democratic principles.

"We are here because democracy must be respected in Bolivia," he said. "We support that democracy must be upheld in the country and that don't exist any dictatorship or any imposition from anybody."

Alcides Arias passionately voiced his support for the president. "This mobilization is to defend democracy. Democracy has to be respected. We are here to support our president, Lucho Arce. So we all have to defend now. Now is when we cannot let them intimidate us by this dictatorship. Lucho, you are not alone!"

"I think this is an outrage of our democracy. They are using our institutionality. Lucho, you are not alone! Democracy must be respected," Arias added.

"We are here to support our president, Arce. Constitutionally and democratically, he was chosen by the people and the citizens. We are still going to support our president to reach to something that is democratic for all the society," noted resident Jacqueline Rojas.

Earlier on Wednesday, troops led by General Zuniga, assembled in Plaza Murillo square, the location of both the presidential palace and Congress in La Paz, according to Xinhua News Agency reports.

Hours later, Zuniga was arrested in a coordinated operation led by Deputy Interior Minister Jhonny Aguilera, effectively thwarting the coup.

At a press conference, Jose Luis Tarquino, the communications head of the Attorney General's Office (FGE), announced the start of a criminal investigation into Zuniga and others involved in the coup. An immigration alert was also issued against Zuniga to prevent any potential escape.

The Prosecutor's Office for the Department of La Paz immediately established a commission of prosecutors to thoroughly investigate the attempted coup.

Amidst ongoing tensions, President Arce and his cabinet reaffirmed their commitment to thwarting any destabilization attempts, vowing to maintain peace and order in the nation.

Bolivians rally to defend democracy

Bolivians rally to defend democracy

Central China's Henan Province has striven over the past more than ten years to build itself into a hinterland hub of reform and opening up through vigorous development of aviation logistics and cross-border trade, and with the adoption of a series of reform measures meant to improve the business environment.

In the provincial capital city of Zhengzhou, the Xinzheng International Airport has become the first in China to introduce an automated guided vehicle (AGV) smart application project. Acting on commands issued by the backstage, this groundbreaking project features 40 unmanned forklifts that effortlessly distribute goods to 1,284 standardized storage locations.

Within the sprawling 70,000-square-meter cargo terminal, a sophisticated intelligent system acts as the brain, automatically calculating the remaining storage capacity and providing early warnings for any potential irregularities in every corner. Beyond enhanced operational efficiency, the implementation of this intelligent system has also resulted in faster and more efficient outbound cargo shipments.

Notably, in May 2020, the Xinzheng International Airport became the sole pilot airport designated to operate air cargo e-freight in China on a trial basis.

The air cargo e-freight platform has revolutionized the industry by digitizing various air cargo documents and customs declarations. This seamless integration has created a comprehensive data chain, connecting foreign trade enterprises, freight forwarders, customs authorities and airlines within the aviation logistics operation chain.

Previously, the process of cargo security declarations used to involve cumbersome paperwork. But now, a single unified platform streamlines the procedure, eliminating the need for redundant submissions and multiple physical visits, effectively easing long-standing bottlenecks.

The adoption of such bold reform measures has significantly improved the business environment. Over 260 companies have already joined the e-freight platform, saving more than 1.5 million paper documents annually and increasing data transmission efficiency by over 20 percent.

As a result, the Xinzheng International Airport air cargo e-freight project was selected into the seventh batch of successful reform projects in China's national-level free trade zones, with plans for replication and nationwide promotion.

With over a decade of development, the Xinzheng International Airport has established more than 40 all-cargo routes, creating an extensive air cargo network that spans Europe, America and Asia, covering major global economic hubs.

Central China province strives to turn itself into hub of reform, opening up