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 chiefs of G20 countries expressed optimism for an agreement on a common position on trade and other global challenges on Friday despite U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs which have overshadowed their meeting.