According to news media, Islamabad’s motivation to expand ties with Beijing emerged during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a delegation from the Chinese space technology company Galaxy Space, before the dignitary departed on Tuesday for Türkiye.

The Pakistani head of government said his country attaches great importance to the space technology sector and China is a more than reliable friend and strategic partner.

The Galaxy Space delegation expressed special interest in investing in Pakistan’s space technology industry and in establishing joint ventures with related institutions and domestic private telecommunications companies.

Last March, China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement to train Pakistani astronauts before joining their counterparts from the neighboring country in the orbital laboratory for short duration missions.

Also as a historic step for its space program, Pakistan will send its first lunar rover aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission, scheduled for 2028.

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