China has announced plans to select and train Pakistan’s first astronauts, marking the first time Beijing will conduct such a program for another nation. The announcement was made during a press conference for the Shenzhou 21 manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The initiative follows a bilateral cooperation agreement signed in February between China and Pakistan. The astronaut selection process has now officially begun and will unfold in three stages: an initial screening in Pakistan, followed by secondary and final selections in China. Once chosen, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training alongside their Chinese counterparts.
Ultimately, one astronaut will be selected to join a short-term flight mission aboard China’s space station as a payload specialist, performing standard crew duties and conducting scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan.
A spokesperson for China’s manned space program emphasized that the country’s space initiatives have consistently adhered to the principles of peaceful use, equality, mutual benefit, and shared development. China, the spokesperson added, welcomes international astronauts to participate in its missions and looks forward to deepening collaboration with the global space community.
The China–Pakistan space cooperation agreement, signed on February 28 in Islamabad between China’s Manned Space Engineering Office and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), marks a major milestone in the two nations’ strategic partnership. The year-long selection and training program underscores China’s expanding role in international space collaboration and Pakistan’s growing ambitions in space science and exploration.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), October 30, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202510300120.aspx