Pakistani astronaut set to become first foreigner to reach Chinese space station

A Pakistani astronaut is set to fly with the crew of China's Shenzhou-24 spacecraft, becoming the first foreigner to set foot on China's space station.

According to China's state news agency Xinhua, the China Manned Space Agency said the astronaut will take part in a short orbital flight as a payload specialist. After the flight, he will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.

The agency has not disclosed a departure date, but the mission is expected to take place by the end of this year.

Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Dawood had earlier begun training alongside their Chinese counterparts as candidates, with plans to select one of them for this mission. Their training included practical spacecraft operation skills and intensive study of the Chinese language.

In February 2025, the two countries signed an agreement for China to provide state training to a Pakistani astronaut. This will be the first joint mission in China's human spaceflight program in which Chinese and foreign astronauts fly together, seen as a step that further strengthens the strategic partnership between the two countries.