Two Pakistani astronauts have arrived in China and joined the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing, marking a significant milestone in bilateral space cooperation, officials confirmed on Friday.
According to the China Manned Space Agency, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have been selected as the first foreign astronauts to participate in China’s human spaceflight training programme.
The announcement was made earlier this week, confirming that both candidates will undergo comprehensive training and evaluation as part of China’s astronaut selection process.
Officials said that after successfully completing all required assessments, one of the two astronauts will be assigned as a payload specialist for a future space mission.
If selected, the astronaut will become the first foreign crew member to travel aboard China’s Tiangong space station, marking a historic development in international participation in China’s space programme.
Space authorities described the inclusion of foreign astronauts as a step toward broader international cooperation in human space exploration and scientific research in orbit.
The development reflects deepening scientific and technological collaboration between Pakistan and China, particularly in advanced aerospace training and space missions.