Pakistan and China have agreed to strengthen collaboration in the field of space sciences with a focus on astronaut training and the establishment of a Pakistan Space Center as part of a new five-year action plan running from 2025 to 2029. The agreement is positioned under the Action Plan for a Closer China-Pakistan Partnership in the New Era and builds on years of cooperation between the two countries in advanced technologies. Officials said the initiative reflects both sides’ intent to expand beyond traditional cooperation areas into frontier domains, giving Pakistan new opportunities to benefit from China’s rapidly advancing space sector.
The two countries will continue implementing the 2021–2030 Space Cooperation Outline Program signed between the China National Space Administration and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. The framework includes ongoing joint efforts in lunar and deep space exploration, with multilevel assessments of the International Lunar Research Station. Under the action plan, astronaut selection and training will be carried out jointly, laying the groundwork for Pakistan’s potential participation in human spaceflight missions in collaboration with China. This marks a significant step in introducing Pakistan to the training protocols and infrastructure required for future crewed space initiatives.
Continuous discussions on the establishment of the Pakistan Space Center form a central component of the action plan. The proposed centre will act as a hub for research, development and application of space technologies to support economic and social development. It is expected to integrate activities across a range of sectors, making advanced space science more accessible to Pakistani researchers, engineers and institutions. The facility will also strengthen Pakistan’s ability to develop and deploy its own space-based solutions for national needs.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation on the use of the international version of the China Platform of Earth Observation System, enabling Pakistan to access advanced remote sensing and satellite technologies. This access is intended to support critical areas such as agriculture, disaster prevention, water resource management, climate monitoring and urban planning. Officials described the action plan as a way to align space technologies with Pakistan’s economic modernization goals, helping drive data-driven policies and infrastructure planning across multiple sectors.
China and Pakistan noted that their long-standing cooperation in space science and technology is of mutual and strategic significance. By incorporating astronaut training, lunar research, advanced satellite systems and remote sensing platforms into their agenda, both countries are extending their partnership into emerging domains. The action plan underscores the role of space technologies as an essential component of Pakistan’s development trajectory while deepening ties with China in high-technology areas alongside existing collaborations in trade, infrastructure and defense.
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