Two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have been selected as the first foreign astronauts to train for missions to the China space station (CSS), the China Manned Space Agency announced on Wednesday.

They will soon travel to China for training as reserve astronauts. After completing all required training and evaluations, one of them will join a future mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to enter the CSS.

The selection follows a bilateral agreement signed by China and Pakistan in Islamabad in February 2025 on astronaut recruitment, training and participation in the CSS program. Pakistan's astronaut search then moved through three stages: preliminary screening, secondary evaluation and final selection.

The selection and training for Pakistan's astronauts mark a milestone in China's space history and a landmark achievement in the international cooperation efforts of CSS. It also reflects the close strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, highlighting China's willingness to share the benefits of its space achievements with the international community.

(With input from Xinhua.)