US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urged for practical results, emphasizing that the output of ship production is what matters most, at the opening ceremony of the Korea-US Shipbuilding Cooperation Center held on the 23rd (local time) to officially launch the Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation project known as "MASGA."

Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., Lutnick said, "The center is not the end product," adding, "Generating results on how many ships will be built is the most important task."

He added, "Talking is of no use."

Lutnick stated, "Realistically, building ships within the United States is more important than anything else," and explained, "This is not about talking or holding meetings regarding shipbuilding in the US, but about actually building ships within the United States."

He noted that President Donald Trump is dedicated to restoring America's capacity as a world-class shipbuilding powerhouse, saying, "We must cultivate America's shipbuilding steelworkers and producers and build a resilient domestic supply chain."

He also emphasized, "We must build all types of warships and commercial vessels within the United States."

Lutnick said, "We will not evaluate this center by how many meetings you hold, how many memorandums of understanding (MOUs) you sign, or how many cocktail parties you host."

He continued, "Instead, we will evaluate this center based on simple metrics: the capital you have invested, the facilities you have modernized, the workers you have trained, the supply chains you have established, and ultimately, the number of ships produced in the US through Korea-US cooperation," adding, "This is the benchmark set by President Trump."

Regarding South Korea's commitment to channel 150 billion dollars out of its 350 billion dollar investment in the US into shipbuilding cooperation, Lutnick said, "It holds a meaning that goes beyond mere numbers," adding, "This is an opportunity to participate in the world's most important industrial revival and a revival of the US shipbuilding industry."

(Photo: Yonhap News)