By Maria Martinez, Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Kopano Gumbi DURBAN (Reuters) -Finance chiefs from the Group of 20 countries stressed the importance of central bank independence while pledging to boost cooperation in a joint statement issued on Friday after a two-day meeting in South Africa.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not attend the two-day meeting in the port city of Durban, continuing a string of snubs by Trump administration officials.

Finance officials from the G20 emphasized central bank independence amid global economic uncertainties, such as trade tensions and extreme weather. The communique avoided directly addressing climate change or specific conflicts but highlighted the need for WTO reform and strategized on macroeconomic issues.