Pakistan looks to sign cooperation agreement on China-led moon research base

Head of Pakistan’s space agency visited the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei last month

Chinese lunar exploration programme’s chief designer says they ‘conducted in-depth exchanges’

2-MIN READ2-MIN

China and Pakistan have been strategic partners in the space sector for three decades. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00pm, 10 Jun 2023

Pakistan hopes to identify specific roles it could play in the China-led International Lunar Research Station and to sign a cooperation agreement on the ILRS soon, according to the head of its space agency.

Amer Nadeem, chairman of SUPARCO, made the remarks during a visit to the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in southeast China last month.

The ILRS is expected to be a full-fledged, long-term base on the moon for scientific exploration by 2050.

Wu Weiren (left), chief designer of the Chinese lunar exploration programme, and Amer Nadeem, chairman of SUPARCO, at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory last month. Photo: Weibo

Nadeem was briefed on the project’s progress during his visit to the lab in Hefei, Anhui province, and “conducted in-depth exchanges” with Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese lunar exploration programme and laboratory director, according to its website.

“We welcome Pakistan to fully participate in the ILRS, foster close partnership with the laboratory, and set an example for working together to build a shared future for mankind in outer space,” Wu was quoted as saying.

Pakistan is one of half a dozen nations and international bodies to sign letters of intent or cooperation agreements since the China National Space Administration released its first road map for the ILRS in 2021.

China is also negotiating with more than 10 other countries to potentially take part, Wu told the international deep space exploration conference organised by the lab in April.