On the 22nd, the China Manned Space Agency announced that the first selection of foreign astronauts has concluded. Two Pakistani reserve astronauts have been chosen, with one to participate in a flight mission, becoming the first foreign astronaut to enter China's Tiangong Space Station.
According to the announcement, the initial selection process for foreign astronauts under China’s manned space program ended in early April, with two Pakistani candidates, Ali and Dawood, ultimately selected. In the near future, they will come to China as reserve astronauts for training. After completing all training and passing the examinations, one of them will participate in the flight mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to enter the Chinese space station.
In February 2025, China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement in Islamabad on the “selection and training of Pakistani astronauts and participation in Chinese space station flight missions,” thereby officially launching the selection of Pakistani astronauts. After three stages—preliminary, secondary, and final selection—two Pakistani reserve astronauts were ultimately chosen.
The China Manned Space Agency stated that this selection and training of astronauts for Pakistan marks a milestone in the history of China's space program. It is a landmark achievement in the international cooperation of China’s space station, as well as another successful example of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan taking root in the aerospace field. It fully demonstrates the Chinese government's open attitude and willingness to share space development achievements with the international community.