In a groundbreaking move, China and Pakistan have signed an agreement to send a Pakistani astronaut to China’s space station, marking the first time a foreign astronaut will join Chinese astronauts in orbit.
The signing ceremony took place on Friday at the Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan in Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the event as Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), and Muhammad Yousuf Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), inked the historic deal.
The selection process for the Pakistani astronaut will span about a year, during which candidates will undergo comprehensive and systematic training in China. According to China’s space station mission planning, the Pakistani astronaut will join Chinese astronauts for short-term missions in the coming years.
“This collaboration is a significant milestone in China-Pakistan relations and sets a precedent for developing countries to participate in international manned space cooperation,” said Lin Xiqiang during the ceremony.
The agreement is expected to inspire more nations to collaborate in space exploration, unraveling the mysteries of the universe and contributing to advancements that benefit all humanity.
