Critical minerals will continue to grow in importance across the globe in the coming decades as technological advancements require greater quantities of these materials. The 2023 US Department of Energy Critical Materials Assessment report listed seven materials as critical in the short term because of their uses for magnets, batteries, and fuel cells: dysprosium, neodymium, gallium, graphite, terbium, iridium, and cobalt. Background image by Xinhua/Li Tao: Xi holds talks with Republic of the Congo’s president September 2018 from News.cn (http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/05/c_137447169_3.htm)