On January 22, 2025, USTH had the honor of hosting a seminar on Exploring Global Challenges in Critical Minerals, featuring Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, Government Representative for Critical Minerals and Metals from the French Prime Minister’s Office, as the key speaker. With years of experience as an engineer and scientist, Mr. Gallezot holds strategic roles within the French government. He works directly under the guidance of the French Prime Minister, leading efforts to develop and secure supplies of critical minerals while promoting “mineral diplomacy” to build international cooperation.
Representing USTH were Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hai Dang, Vice Rector, and Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Phong, along with faculty members and researchers from USTH. Attended the seminor were Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, Government Representative for Critical Minerals and Metals, along with several key partners of USTH.
In his speech, Mr. Gallezot expressed his belief that cooperation between Vietnam and France is a significant and necessary step forward for both countries, promising to advance science beyond current limits. He emphasized that Vietnam is an important partner for France, with its rich mineral resources, professional resource research forces, and robust industrial development.
Mr. Gallezot highlighted that strategic minerals and metals are precious and vital resources for many cutting-edge industries, not only in Vietnam but also globally. He pointed out challenges in this field, such as the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mineral discovery, as many resources remain untapped, and the need for effective extraction methods. He also discussed ways France and Vietnam could collaborate to address these urgent issues, including the development of intelligent extraction strategies.
The profound insights from a country with advanced technology like France captured the special interest of the USTH faculty and researchers attending the seminar. The discussion became lively, with questions and academic exchanges between the speaker and participants. Concluding the seminar, Mr. Gallezot stressed that collaboration and development are more effective than competing to exploit resources independently. He reaffirmed that the strong partnership between Vietnam and France is not only key to effectively exploiting mineral resources but also a testament to a long-term strategic vision where science and technology serve as a bridge for sustainable development for both nations.
