Phnom penh: The 28th Conference of Central Bank Governors of Francophone Countries, organised by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) in collaboration with the Bank of France on May 28-29, in Phnom Penh, concluded successfully with a commitment to strengthen economic stability and financial technology. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the conference was held under the theme "Central Bank's Autonomy for State and Public Expectations" with the participation of 26 central bank governors from Francophone countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. The two-day conference served as a forum for governors to exchange views and share experiences on current key economic, monetary, and financial issues, focusing on central bank autonomy and technological innovation in the financial sector, the NBC stated in a press release issued on May 31. NBC Governor H.E. Dr. Chea Serey emphasised that new financial technologies are rapidly transforming how citizens access financial servic es, and these innovations are becoming the primary means to promote financial inclusion. She stated, "The central bank is not playing a role in curbing innovation but ensuring that these innovations serve the interests of the people rather than create vulnerability." At the conference, H.E. Christine Lagarde, Governor of the European Central Bank, highlighted that in a world of fragmentation and uncertainty, cooperation among Francophone countries is a valuable framework for strengthening mutual trust. The NBC press release stated that by sharing experiences and perspectives at this conference, central banks can forecast common challenges related to the economy, geopolitics, climate, and digital matters for fulfilling the mission of maintaining price stability or the resilience of the financial system. In his opening remarks, H.E. François Villeroy De Galhau, Governor of the Bank of France, emphasised that "Independence is a condition for ensuring the effectiveness of the central bank, and transparency is a condition for recognition of the central bank." The conference was deemed successful and fruitful, contributing significantly to the promotion of closer ties among the central banks of the Francophone countries. The Conference of Central Bank Governors of Francophone Countries was established in 1994 under the initiative of the French central bank, creating a forum for discussion, exchange of experiences, and cooperation between Francophone central banks. This is the third time that the NBC has hosted this international conference, with the first held in 1996 and the second in 2011.