Pakistani astronaut to join China’s next space station mission

What happened: China's Manned Space Agency selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for the Shenzhou-24 mission, the first foreign national to visit China's space station. China has not named the astronaut or given a departure date. Key numbers: Mission expected by the end of the year. Why it matters: The selection is part of bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, following a February agreement on a Chinese government-led programme to train Pakistani astronauts. China is Pakistan's largest trading partner and a key foreign investor.

China's Manned Space Agency selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for the Shenzhou-24 mission, the first foreign national to visit China's space station. China has not named the astronaut or given a departure date.

The selection is part of bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, following a February agreement on a Chinese government-led programme to train Pakistani astronauts. China is Pakistan's largest trading partner and a key foreign investor.