Xinhua News Agency: According to reports, a Pakistani astronaut will join the Shenzhou XXIV mission crew as payload specialist and complete a short orbital flight before returning to Earth with the Shenzhou XXIII spaceship. I wonder if you have any comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: Exploration of the vast universe and peaceful use of outer space are humanity’s shared pursuit and bear on the welfare of all peoples. China advocates the peaceful use of outer space, engages in active international space cooperation, and promotes the building of a community with a shared future in the domain of outer space.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Having the Pakistani astronaut on board China’s spaceships will mark the first ever joint mission of Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China’s manned space program. The Pakistani astronaut will be the first foreign astronaut to step into China’s space station. This is yet another key outcome of bilateral cooperation as we mark the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties. We stand ready to work with the Pakistani side to carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen cooperation in space and other fields, and bring bilateral relations to new heights.