The Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan met Standard Chartered on the sidelines of the 59th Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting in Samarkand to discuss cooperation on international reserve management and digital finance. The main points were Uzbekistan’s ongoing work to diversify reserve assets and automate reserve management processes, and the central bank’s assessment of central bank digital currency approaches based on international experience. Discussions covered digital banking, fintech solutions, digital assets, digital custody, and cross-border settlement infrastructure. On reserves, the central bank reiterated its conservative management approach focused on safety, liquidity, and profitability, while exchanging views with Standard Chartered on portfolio diversification, custodian bank cooperation, the use of external asset managers, and opportunities across financial markets. The meeting also addressed custody services, clearing solutions, technical assistance, and broader financial market infrastructure, with both sides agreeing to continue dialogue on practical areas of cooperation.