ABUJA (AFP) -- African and South American foreign ministers were preparing the ground for an inaugural summit of leaders from the two continents, home to 1.3 billion people and with a combined GDP of $2.45 billion.

The early limelight ahead of today's summit was stolen by Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi when his large entourage became embroiled in a diplomatic row with Nigerian security forces on his arrival at Abuja airport.

After a dispute over the amount of weaponry the Libyan security detail could carry out of the airport, Kadhafi's convoy, made up of more than 60 vehicles, most of them flown in for the occasion, was allowed to proceed into town.

But, the Kadhafi incident aside, the importance of the meeting of the two continents in Abuja was clear and further summits have already been planned in Venezuela in 2009 and in Morocco in 2012.

"The potential is enormous", said Omar Hilale, secretary general at Morocco's foreign affairs ministry, telling AFP his country proposes hosting a meeting for trade ministers from the two continents next year.

This year's hosts Nigeria and Brazil, economic, political and military powerhouses on their respective continents, have been planning the summit over the past year.

In Brazil, "Lula's first term in office saw the development of a foreign policy very focused on south-south relations, particularly with African countries", a Brazilian official explained.

"Between the two continents there is a lack of information that has to be filled," Morocco's Hilale told AFP.

In a draft declaration for the summit, the leaders will call for a rapid resumption and speedy conclusion of the Doha Round of world trade talks.

They also want to create an African-South American investment bank with both regional financing and funds from the major international financial institutions.

Reform of the United Nations is another issue that will be at the heart of discussions and leaders are expected to call for the "equitable inclusion of developing countries" at the world body.

There is unlikely to be any agreement so far between the two continents as to which countries should be given a permanent Security Council seat.

South American diplomats said Brazil intends to do some serious lobbying to win out over Mexico or Argentina in its bid for a permanent seat.

"If they (Brazil) organized this summit it was in order to gain support for a Security Council seat," one diplomat said.

Six South American leaders will attend the meeting: Surinam President Ronald Venetiaan, Ecuador President Alfredo Palacio, Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolivia's Evo Morales and Guyana's Bharrat Jagdeo.

South American diplomatic sources say they expect the leaders of 40 out of Africa's 53 countries to attend the event. Among those expected to take a leading role are the host, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and South African President Thabo Mbeki.

However, many diplomats -- both African and Western -- were skeptical that the summit would produce anything concrete.

"It's likely going to be another talking shop between two continents," one African diplomat in the region told AFP.