Friendship with China to extend "from Earth to space": former Pakistani PM

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar has hailed the deepening cooperation between China and Pakistan in space exploration, saying the two countries' long-standing friendship and mutual trust are poised to extend from the Earth into space.

In an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) during a recent visit to China, Kakar highlighted the vast opportunities which have emerged following a cooperation agreement signed between the two governments in February, which will see Pakistani astronauts trained to take part in future space missions.

The deal marks the first time China will train foreign astronauts, paving the way for the arrival of the first foreign visitor to China's Tiangong space station.

Following the agreement, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced in April that it would select and train two Pakistani astronauts, with one slated to serve as a payload specialist on a future Chinese space station flight.

Kakar said the decision reflects the high level of strategic mutual trust between the two sides and demonstrates that bilateral cooperation has entered a new stage featuring broader scope and deeper engagement.

"We are electrified, we are super excited, this journey from the planet to space, from planet Earth to space is an amazing journey of partnership, of friendship, of reliability, of trustworthiness towards one another. The people, the nation, the countries who can trust one another on the planet would be trusting each other in space. That could be an amazing moment. And all of the Pakistani nation is really looking forward for that moment and we are super excited," said Kakar.

Earlier this year, China also granted Pakistani scientists with access to lunar samples collected by the country's Chang'e-5 mission, further highlighting the collaboration in space and scientific research.

China has been deepening its role in international space research and cooperation in recent years, partnering with over 60 other institutions and 17 other nations to advance lunar and deep space exploration.

Friendship with China to extend "from Earth to space": former Pakistani PM

China and Russia have agreed to resolutely safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II, safeguard world peace and security, and uphold historical truth and international justice, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

In response to a related media query, Lin briefed the press on the outcomes of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Russia and the 20th round of China-Russia strategic security consultation earlier this week.

"This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. The two heads of state attended commemorations in each other's country, and agreed to firmly safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II and resolutely oppose any retrogressive acts attempting to whitewash colonial aggression, sending a powerful message for upholding justice and fairness in the current era," Lin noted.

"During the recent China-Russia strategic security consultation, the two sides conducted strategic alignment on issues related to Japan, reaching a high degree of consensus. Both sides agreed to resolutely safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II won at the cost of lives and blood, firmly oppose any erroneous words and deeds that attempt to whitewash the history of colonial aggression, and resolutely counter any attempts to revive fascism or Japanese militarism. Both sides stressed that China and Russia, as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, will shoulder their shared responsibility to safeguard world peace and security, and uphold historical truth and international justice," said the spokesman.

"We stand ready to continue coordinating and cooperating with Russia to resolutely curb the provocative acts of Japan's far-right forces that undermine regional peace and stability and attempt to remilitarize," Lin said.

China, Russia agree to resolutely safeguard outcomes of World War II victory: spokesman