China's First Foreign Astronauts Arrive for Training at Astronaut Center
Summary: On April 24, 2026, the China Manned Space Agency announced that two Pakistani astronauts had officially entered the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing to begin training alongside their Chinese peers. This marks the first time in China's manned spaceflight history that foreign astronauts have participated in systematic training at the center.
Pakistani astronauts Muhammad Zeeshan Ali (L) and Khurram Daud (R) arrive at the Astronaut Center of China. Credit: CCTV News
On April 24, 2026, the China Manned Space Agency announced that two Pakistani astronauts had officially entered the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing to begin training alongside their Chinese peers. This is the first time in China's manned spaceflight history that foreign astronauts have participated in systematic training, representing a landmark achievement.
Background of the Two Astronauts
Following joint selection by the China Manned Space Agency and Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the two selected Pakistani astronauts are:
- Muhammad Zeeshan Ali
- Khurram Daud
After completing the domestic selection process in Pakistan, the two astronauts received a briefing from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on April 23, before departing for China. On the evening of April 23, PM Sharif posted on social media that the achievement demonstrates the "outstanding talent" of the Pakistani people and reflects the growing closeness of Pakistan-China space cooperation, wishing them an "exciting journey ahead."
Training and Future Mission
According to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, after arriving in Beijing, the two astronauts officially began systematic training on April 24, covering:
- Spacecraft operations
- Space environment adaptation
- Mission coordination and other core subjects
Upon completing all training and passing assessments, one of them will participate in a mission to China's Tiangong space station as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit the Chinese space station. The mission is expected to last approximately one week.
Significance of China-Pakistan Space Cooperation
The arrival of Pakistani astronauts in China is a landmark achievement in the international cooperation of China's space station. The China Manned Space Agency stated that this represents another successful example of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership being implemented in the aerospace field, demonstrating China's open attitude toward sharing the fruits of its space development with the international community.
SUPARCO stated that this will be an important milestone for Pakistan's space industry. Pakistani media have also given significant attention to this development. The Nation newspaper noted that traditional China-Pakistan cooperation has focused on infrastructure, energy, and national defense; this expansion into manned spaceflight marks a critical shift toward advanced science and technology cooperation.
Background: The selection process for China's first batch of foreign astronauts was completed in early April 2026 (reported on April 22, 2026). The arrival of Pakistani astronauts in China for training on April 24 represents the latest development in this cooperation program.