A Pakistani astronaut is set to become the first foreign astronaut to enter China’s space station, according to the Chinese Embassy.
An embassy spokesperson said China’s Foreign Ministry had announced that a Pakistani astronaut would join the crew of a Chinese spacecraft. It would be the first time in China’s human spaceflight programme that Chinese and foreign astronauts fly together on a mission.
The embassy said the mission would strengthen the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China, inspire young people to pursue science and give them new opportunities to advance in the field. It added that the mission would also open new avenues for cooperation in scientific research and space technology.
The embassy released photographs of both Pakistani astronauts. The announcement referred to one Pakistani astronaut joining the spacecraft crew.
