Pakistani Astronaut to Train for Short-Duration Spaceflight | China Space Station
China is selecting Pakistani astronauts for short-duration missions on the Tiangong Space Station, said a spokesman of China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on October 30, 2025.
Zhang Jingbo, the spokesman, announced at a press conference that the selection process for Pakistani astronauts officially commenced following the signing of a cooperation agreement between China and Pakistan in February this year.
Under the agreement, the Chinese government will recruit and train a group of Pakistani astronauts, and one of them will be the first foreign astronaut to enter China's Tiangong Space Station.
The process is being carried out in three phases, Zhang said, noting that the preliminary selection is currently underway in Pakistan, while shortlisting and final selection will take place in China.
The Chinese team is now working on the preparation for the shortlisting stage, including the training plan, teaching materials and living support during the training, Zhang added.
"According to the plan, two selected Pakistani astronauts will participate in training together with Chinese astronauts. One of them will be scheduled to carry out a short-duration flight mission as a payload expert based on the mid-term plan for the Chinese Space Station and the cooperation progress. During the mission, the astronaut, in addition to performing routine duties, will also conduct scientific experiments for Pakistan," said Zhang.
The spokesman also noted that the Chinese government remains committed to exploring space technology and is open to sharing development opportunities with other countries.
"Since its inception, the China Manned Space program has constantly adhered to the principles of peaceful utilization, mutual benefit and shared development. We're proactive in selecting foreign astronauts to participate in flight missions to the Chinese space station, facilitating international cooperation and exchange, and promoting the space technology to develop further and benefit all humanity. We welcome counterparts from all over the world to participate in Chinese space station expeditions," said Zhang.
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. Islamabad is the nation's capital, while Karachi is its largest city and financial center. Pakistan is the 33rd-largest country by area. Bounded by the Arabian Sea on the south, the Gulf of Oman on the southwest, and the Sir Creek on the southeast, it shares land borders with India to the east; Afghanistan to the west; Iran to the southwest; and China to the northeast. It shares a maritime border with Oman in the Gulf of Oman, and is separated from Tajikistan in the northwest by Afghanistan's narrow Wakhan Corridor.
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Oct. 30, 2025
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