China announces inclusion of Pakistani astronaut in upcoming space mission
Beijing, October 30, 2025: In a historic milestone for China–Pakistan space cooperation, China has announced that a Pakistani astronaut will join one of its upcoming space missions, marking Pakistan’s first-ever participation in a Chinese crewed space program. According to Chinese state media, the Pakistani astronaut will serve as a payload specialist for a short-duration mission…
Beijing, October 30, 2025: In a historic milestone for China–Pakistan space cooperation, China has announced that a Pakistani astronaut will join one of its upcoming space missions, marking Pakistan’s first-ever participation in a Chinese crewed space program.
According to Chinese state media, the Pakistani astronaut will serve as a payload specialist for a short-duration mission under the framework of the China–Pakistan space collaboration program.
The participation is aligned with the medium-term plan of China’s space station program, which aims to strengthen international partnerships in scientific research and space technology.
Reports further indicate that the Pakistani astronaut will undergo joint training with Chinese taikonauts, a step seen as a major advancement in bilateral space cooperation between the two nations.
The announcement underscores Beijing and Islamabad’s growing strategic and technological partnership, extending their long-standing collaboration from economic and defense sectors into the realm of space exploration and science.
