Photo: CCTV

Two Pakistani astronauts have entered the Astronaut Center of China and are participating in training, including core training programs, Chinese-language training for daily operations, and in-orbit coordination, a spokesperson from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Saturday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson of CMSA, briefed the overall progress of training for the two Pakistani astronauts at a press conference on the launch of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China on Saturday.

Zhang noted that the two Pakistani astronauts entered the China Astronaut Research and Training Center on the occasion of China Space Day to participate in mission training alongside Chinese astronauts.

Under the current plan, one Pakistani astronaut will join a short-duration space mission as a payload specialist. The astronaut is currently undergoing basic training and specialized aerospace technical training in accordance with the training program, with a focus on practical operational skills to ensure the capability to complete the mission. All related work is progressing smoothly at present, the CCTV News reported.

Regarding Chinese-language learning, intensive Putonghua courses will be provided during the initial stage of training to enhance the astronauts' language skills and help them acquire basic Chinese proficiency, as well as the command terminology required for carrying out space missions, the report said.

The China Manned Space Agency announced on April 22 that Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud had been selected as the first foreign astronauts for China's space mission training program. After completing all training and evaluations, one of them will participate in a space mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut aboard the Tiangong space station, per Xinhua.