From satellite launches and lunar exploration to astronaut training and satellite navigation services, China and Pakistan have steadily expanded their aerospace partnership in recent years. What began largely with communications and remote-sensing satellites is now moving toward human spaceflight and deep-space exploration, becoming one of the most visible examples of South-South cooperation in space sector.

One of the biggest developments came in April, when China completed the selection process for the first group of foreign astronauts to participate in the country's space station program. Two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have been selected to become the first foreign astronauts to train for China's future space station missions.

According to the China Manned Space Agency, one of them is likely to become the first foreign astronaut to enter the Chinese space station after completing all training and evaluations.

The partnership is also reaching beyond Earth orbit.

In 2024, Pakistan's CubeSat was carried aboard China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission, marking Pakistan's first participation in a lunar exploration project. The satellite later returned lunar imaging data to Pakistan, becoming a milestone in the country's deep-space ambitions.

China and Pakistan have signed a cooperation agreement on the International Lunar Research Station, with a future payload cooperation on China's upcoming Chang'e-8 mission.

Pakistan was also the first overseas country to fully adopt China's BeiDou Satellite Navigation System for commercial use. The system has been applied in sectors including agriculture, transportation, logistics and disaster monitoring.

Chinese launch service providers have also helped Pakistan deploy multiple communication and remote-sensing satellites in recent years. 

In May 2024, China successfully launched a Pakistani multi-mission communication satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. In 2025, a Chinese commercial rocket company launched three satellites into orbit, including a Pakistani remote-sensing satellite.

As more countries seek access to satellite networks, lunar research and space technologies, China-Pakistan cooperation is becoming an example of how South-South collaboration is expanding to deep space.