Ethnic cultural extravaganza held in Guizhou to mark China Tourism Day

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A grand parade featuring participants from various ethnic groups donned their signature costumes and vibrant folk performances was held Sunday in Guiyang, the capital city of southwest China's Guizhou Province, to mark the 15th China Tourism Day that falls on Monday this year.

More than 3,600 performers from nine cities and prefectures across Guizhou formed 26 distinctive phalanxes. They marched along a 2,300-meter-long route connecting the city landmarks of Guiyang.

The carnival served as a "mobile grand stage" for energetic instrumental and dance shows and display of millennium-old handicraft techniques, showcasing the rich and diverse ethnic cultures of Guizhou.

"We want to embody that all ethnic groups in China unite as a family. The confidence demonstrated [by the parade] is the cultural confidence of the Chinese nation. We turn the central urban road sections into a grand stage showcasing ethnic solidarity," said Tang Huang, director of the parade.

The grand parade celebration held in Guiyang was part of the countdown city relay for Chinese Tourism Day, which is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Guizhou is abundant in tourism resources, featuring attractive natural ecology and rich ethnic customs. It boasts internationally renowned sites and diverse forms of ethnic intangible cultural heritage.

The event not only presented popular scenic spots and tourist destinations across the province, but also promoted representative cultural, sports and tourism brands, drawing spectators from all over the country.

"I came from Shandong Province. Several phalanxes marched in front me, and I was particularly shocked. At the same time, I also felt the prosperity of our motherland and the great unity of the nation," said Xu Fei, a tourist.

Ethnic cultural extravaganza held in Guizhou to mark China Tourism Day

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation