BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Two Pakistani candidates have been selected as the first foreign astronauts for China's space mission training, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Wednesday afternoon, calling it a landmark achievement in international cooperation on the Chinese space station.
The agency said in a statement that Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will come to China soon as reserve astronauts for training. After completing all training and evaluations, one of them will participate in a space mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut onboard the Tiangong space station.
The first selection of foreign astronauts for China's manned space program was completed in early April, according to the agency. ■
