posted 02-28-2025 08:22 AM               

China and Pakistan Sign Cooperation Agreement on Selection and Training of Astronauts, China's Space Station will welcome the first foreign astronaut visit

On Feb. 28, 2025, the China Manned Space Engineering Office and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission officially signed the Cooperation Agreement on the Selection, Training of Pakistani Astronauts and Participating in Chinese Space Station Missions in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, opening a new chapter in deepening cooperation between China and Pakistan in the field of manned spaceflight and taking the first step in selecting and training foreign astronauts to participate in the Chinese space station mission.

At 13:45 Beijing time on the same day, the signing ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's Office in Pakistan, and under the witness of Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, signed an agreement with Mohammad Yusuf Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Committee. The signing of the agreement marks the first time that the Chinese government will train astronauts for foreign countries, and the Chinese space station will welcome the first foreign astronaut visit.

According to the plan, the two sides will use about a year to complete the selection work, and the Pakistani astronauts will receive a full range of systematic training in China. According to the mission planning arrangements of the Chinese space station, Pakistani astronauts will be arranged to enter the Chinese space station with Chinese astronauts for short-term missions in the next few years.

Since the implementation of China's manned space engineering project, it has always adhered to the principle of "peaceful utilization, equality, mutual benefit and common development", focused on sharing China's development achievements for all mankind, actively opened up opportunities for cooperation in China's space station, and actively contributed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The signing of this cooperation agreement provides an example for more developing countries to participate in international cooperation in manned spaceflight, and is conducive to inspiring more countries to join hands to explore the mysteries of the universe and jointly write a new chapter on the road of benefiting all mankind.

posted 10-30-2025 12:26 PM               

Pakistani astronaut to enter Chinese space station as payload specialist

Two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training alongside Chinese astronauts, and one of them will be selected to participate in a short-duration spaceflight mission as a payload specialist, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Thursday.

The selection process for Pakistani astronauts has officially commenced following a cooperation agreement between China and Pakistan signed in February this year, said Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the agency.

Similar to the selection process for Chinese astronauts, this process is divided into three stages: preliminary selection, second round of selection and final selection. The preliminary selection is currently being conducted in Pakistan, while the second round and final selections will take place in China.

Preparations for the second round of selection are already underway, including developing training programs, preparing teaching materials and equipment, and ensuring logistical support during the training period, Zhang said.

Following the final selection, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training alongside Chinese astronauts as planned. One Pakistani astronaut will be chosen to join a short-duration space mission as a payload specialist and conduct scientific experiments for Pakistan, as well as perform routine crew duties during the flight.

Since its inception, China's manned space program has consistently adhered to the principles of peaceful utilization, equality, mutual benefit and shared development, Zhang noted.

China actively recruits foreign astronauts to participate in its space station missions, promotes international cooperation and exchange in its manned space program, advances space technology development, and works to benefit all humankind, he said.

"We welcome our global counterparts to join the flight missions of the Chinese space station," Zhang added.

posted 04-22-2026 08:56 AM               

Pakistani astronauts selected for China's space mission training

The selection of the first batch of foreign astronauts by China's Manned Space Agency concluded in early April 2026, and two Pakistani candidates Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were chosen. Soon, they will travel to China to participate in training as reserve taikonauts. After completing various training exercises and passing an assessment, one of them will participate in a mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to enter China's space station.

In February 2025 in Islamabad, China and Pakistan signed the Cooperation Agreement on the Selection, Training and Participation of Pakistani Astronauts in the Chinese Space Station Mission, and the selection of Pakistani astronauts was officially launched.

The selection and training of astronauts for Pakistan is a milestone in China's space history, a landmark achievement for international cooperation with China's space station , and another successful example of the implementation of the China-Pakistan strategic partnership in the space field, which fully demonstrates the Chinese government's willingness to share the achievements of space development with the international community.

The peaceful use of space for the benefit of all mankind has always been China's original mission to vigorously develop its space industry. China's Manned Space Agency will always open its doors, and all countries in the world are welcome to actively participate in cooperation in the fields of scientific experiments, technical experiments and astronaut selection and training for the Chinese space station, jointly expand mankind's understanding of the universe, and jointly contribute wisdom to the establishment of a society with a shared future for mankind.

posted 04-23-2026 11:07 AM               

The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) announces a landmark advancement in Pakistan's Manned Space Mission Program as two Astronaut Candidates, Khurram Daud and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali are set to depart for the People's Republic of China to begin advanced astronaut training at the Astronaut Centre of China (ACC).

Above: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (at center) meets Pakistani astronauts Khurram Daud (left of center) and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali (right of center) in Islamabad.

This is a significant step forward in Pakistan's space exploration journey that positions the country in the community of a select group of nations actively engaged in human spaceflight programs. Under this collaboration, Pakistan is preparing for its first-ever participation in a mission to the China Space Station (CSS). The mission is currently planned for launch in late 2026, where a Pakistani astronaut will serve as a Payload Expert aboard the Shenzhen mission.

During mission aboard the 'China Space Station (CSS)', the Pakistani astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity. These experiments span critical areas including material science, fluid physics, life/ bio science, and biotechnology, with potential applications for climate resilience, food security, and industrial innovation.

On the historical occasion, Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif commended the efforts of SUPARCO; a harbinger of deep space exploration. He also appreciated ironclad China-Pakistan brotherhood, yet another testimony of which is choosing Pakistan to be the first country for participation in Manned Space Mission.