“The Chinese side suggests UFC consider taking measures to proactively exert influence on African countries prior to and during the summit, making them realize that the future of intermediate arrangement on transitional approach is not yet clear...currently the AU should remain calm and watch, keep united and maintain common ground. The Chinese side considers that it is possible to push countries like Algeria, Egypt, Libya, the Republic of Congo etc to keep coordinated and take the lead in opposing the adjustment of the AU common ground.”

Based on this conversation, Hyder wrote to Arain with a summary of the points made by the Chinese Ambassador asking him to remain in close touch with Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun who was to lead Beijing’s delegation at the summit. He also gave the mobile phone numbers of the officials in the Chinese embassy coordinating Jun’s visit.

“I briefed him (the Chinese Ambassador) on the lines of our communication of 21 June 2007 and shared our talking points. I added that Libya had recently shown signs of some possible change in its position which merited that particular importance should be given to that country at bilateral level by all of us...I assured him of close coordination with our delegation during the summit,” he wrote.

Significantly, Libya had voiced support to India’s candidature for UNSC permanent membership during External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit in May and his landmark meeting with Col Gaddafi.

Three days after the Accra Summit, where the AU made no change in its position — just as China and Pak had wished for — Mukherjee visited Ethiopia and, for the first time, floated the idea of an India-Africa Partnership Summit that finally took place here in April this year. Japan is now planning to host a similar summit.

... contd.