China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Having the Pakistani astronaut on board China’s spaceships will mark the first-ever joint mission of Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China’s manned space program. The Pakistani astronaut will be the first foreign astronaut to step into China’s space station, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday.
Guo made these remarks in response to a question at Monday’s regular press conference about a Pakistani astronaut’s planned participation in the Shenzhou-24 crewed mission as a payload specialist. The astronaut is expected to return aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft after completing a short-term stay in orbit.
Guo said that exploration of the vast universe and peaceful use of outer space are humanity’s shared pursuit and bear on the welfare of all peoples. China advocates the peaceful use of outer space, engages in active international space cooperation, and promotes the building of a community with a shared future in the domain of outer space, he said.
This is yet another key outcome of bilateral cooperation as we mark the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties, Guo said.
China stands ready to work with the Pakistani side to carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen cooperation in space and other fields, and bring bilateral relations to new heights, Guo added.
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced the arrangement on Saturday.
In February 2025, China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement on astronaut selection, training, and participation in Chinese space station flight missions in Islamabad, officially launching astronaut selection from Pakistan, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
After a rigorous three-stage selection and assessment process, two Pakistani reserve astronauts were selected. After completing all training and passing the evaluation in China, one will carry out the crewed flight mission, while the other will serve as a backup.
According to the Pakistani local media outlet Dawn, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the two in April and congratulated them on their selection. He said the space mission was a “matter of pride for the entire nation” and further commended their “round-the-clock efforts” in achieving the milestone.
Shehbaz hoped that the space mission would “add new dimensions to the brotherly relationship between Pakistan and China.”
