Dr. Hans Nibshan Seesaghur
Dr. Hans Nibshan Seesaghur
Dr. Hans Seesaghur is an international relations expert, Sinologist, and specialist in economic diplomacy with more than two decades of academic, professional, and intercultural experience spanning Africa, China, and Europe.
He holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Wuhan University, where he also earned a Master’s degree in International Relations and a Bachelor’s degree in International Economics and Trade.
He is recognized as the first African to have travelled across all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and Special Administrative Regions of China, gaining a rare grassroots perspective on the country’s social, economic, cultural, and governance dynamics. These extensive journeys have shaped much of his work on Africa-China engagement and provided him with a unique understanding of China’s regional diversity, economic transformation, and development pathways.
He established the Mauritius Economic Development Board (EDB) Representative Office in Shanghai and served as its China Chief Representative, while simultaneously serving as the first Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Mauritius in Beijing. In these dual capacities, he played a key role in strengthening economic and trade relations between Mauritius and China following the entry into force of the Mauritius-China Free Trade Agreement in 2021, helping to shape Mauritius’ economic diplomacy engagement with China at a time of expanding bilateral cooperation.
Overseeing these complementary portfolios, he led the design and implementation of market-entry strategies for Mauritian products, facilitated greenfield and brownfield investments, strengthened business partnerships, and supported high-level economic engagements that contributed to the expansion of Mauritian exports to China and the deepening of bilateral trade and investment relations.
He began his professional career with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (Shanghai), where he worked closely with European multinational companies operating in China, contributed to policy advocacy initiatives, and supported efforts aimed at strengthening EU-China commercial relations. He then served as Political Assistant at the Office of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, where he supported diplomatic engagement with member states, coordinated inter-agency processes, and contributed to strategic briefings on global governance and development cooperation.
Upon his return to Mauritius, he served as Political Assistant at the Embassy of China in Mauritius, supporting bilateral diplomatic initiatives, high-level visits, and cooperation across a range of sectors. He then also served at the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping of Mauritius under the Service to Mauritius Programme, contributing to initiatives related to maritime affairs and the blue economy. Collectively, these experiences provided him with a strong foundation in multilateral diplomacy, maritime governance, bilateral relations, international development, trade and investment promotion, and private-sector engagement.
Dr. Seesaghur remains actively engaged in academia, research, and intercultural exchange. He previously reformed the Wuhan International Students’ Union, promoting dialogue among students from around the world, and served as Guest Professor at South China Normal University. He currently lectures in the COMESA-supported Master of Regional Integration programme at the University of Mauritius. As an International Affairs Specialist and Sinologist with a Shanghai-based consulting institution, his research focuses on Africa-China economic and trade relations and South-South cooperation.
Fluent in English and French, with advanced proficiency in Mandarin and working knowledge of Russian and Arabic, he has contributed to a range of international academic, policy, diplomatic, and business platforms. Beyond his professional engagements, he mentors young professionals through the TEF Foundation and supporting initiatives that promote leadership, capacity building, and youth empowerment.