The Liuyang River in central China's Hunan Province glistened brilliantly under a breathtaking spectacle of fireworks during the 17th Liuyang Fireworks Cultural Festival, which opened on Oct 24.
A centerpiece of the two-day visual extravaganza was the 6th Liuyang Fireworks Competition, drawing six elite international teams from the United States, Japan, Hungary, Belgium, Sweden, and Slovenia.
Renowned as the "Hometown of Fireworks in China," Liuyang City boasts a remarkable concentration of 431 fireworks manufacturers, producing nearly 70 percent of the nation's total fireworks exports.
Working closely with local Chinese fireworks suppliers and installation crews, the visiting teams crafted imaginative and awe-inspiring pyrotechnic displays.
Each dazzling burst embodied the theme of "harmony in diversity," transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries to celebrate a universal passion for beauty and artistry.
Beyond the visual feast, the festival served as a vibrant platform for cultural exchanges and international cooperation, fostering meaningful connections among participants from across the globe.
Visiting pyrotechnicians expressed deep admiration for the event's grand scale, meticulous organization, and the genuine warmth extended by their Chinese counterparts.
"This festival is fantastic and very famous in the world. We work with the Chinese workers and our support company managers. They are very lovely people, and they work hard to realize our dreams. We made an imaginary journey on the Silk Road. It's a symbolic Silk Road from Hungary to China and from China back to Hungary," said Ferenc Toth, managing director of Nuvu Kft, a key player in the Hungarian pyrotechnics industry, both in service and trade.
"The first time I was in the Liuyang competition was 12 years ago, in 2013. And of course, I think it's a dream for every respected display company to come here and shoot fireworks in the very famous area of Liuyang. This is the place to be for fireworks. It's so huge, and the possibilities are incredible. For me, it's like a second dream. My first dream was already (realized) 12 years ago, so it's dream has come true again," said Christophe Byl, fireworks designer at CBF Pyrotechnics, a leading global company specializing in the design, production, and execution of professional fireworks displays and special effects worldwide, headquartered in Belgium.
Int'l firework display held in central China city
Cuba has strongly condemned the United States' seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, with a former Cuban diplomat calling the action illegal and warning it threatens regional energy security as the U.S. escalates pressure on Venezuela.
Carlos Alzugaray, the former Cuban diplomat, said the seizure of the tanker and its cargo violates international law.
"They have seized the ship, the tanker, but they have also seized the oil, they have taken the oil. All the sanctions that the United States has imposed on Venezuela are illegal because they are not based on any decision of an international institution like the Security Council of the United Nations," he said.
U.S. forces last week seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, the Skipper, in the Caribbean, alleging it was part of an "illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations." The U.S. has since intensified its campaign against Venezuela's oil trade.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has ordered a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, escalating a months-long pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump also said that the Venezuelan government has been designated "a foreign terrorist organization," accusing it of involvement in crimes including terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking.
Trump also claimed that Venezuela is "completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America," warning that the pressure would continue until the assets he said had been taken are returned to the United States.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has also denounced the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker last week, calling it an act of piracy and maritime terrorism as the U.S. blockade may also impact Cuba, which is experiencing an energy crisis and is heavily dependent on oil imports from Venezuela.
For Cuba, the seizure raises particular concerns. The island is facing a deep energy crisis marked by rolling blackouts and relies heavily on oil imports from Venezuela. Cuban officials fear that expanded U.S. enforcement actions could further disrupt supplies.
The tanker seizure coincides with an expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean under "Operation Southern Spear," officially described as a counter-narcotics mission. Cuban authorities argue that the deployment violates a regional declaration designating Latin America and the Caribbean as a "Zone of Peace," and have called for international condemnation of the U.S. actions.
Cuba condemns US seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker amid energy crisis
