Most have close ties to China, do not want to anger Beijing or have a tendency to take a hard line against their own dissidents.

Those who have said they are staying away are Afghanistan, Algeria, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Ukraine and the Philippines had first declined their invitations, but Nobel Institute director Geir Lundestad said Thursday they had changed their mind.

At the same time, he said, Algeria had been added to the absentee list and "we believe that Argentina will not be coming, or at least will not be represented by the ambassador."

Russia, which signed trade agreements with China last month worth 8.5 billion dollars, has officially pleaded prior engagements for its absence, while Serbia has admitted its desire to maintain good relations with Beijing.

Other countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka have economic and defence ties with China, while Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply it with oil.

Iran also relies on Chinese support in the UN Security Council to fight sanctions against its nuclear programme, and will not have forgotten the Peace Prize awarded to one of its own dissidents, Shirin Ebadi, in 2003.

Most of the 65 countries with embassies in Oslo will be represented, including Western powers from the European Union and the United States, as well as Japan, which has a territorial dispute with China.

Emerging economic powers which are potential rivals rather than partners of China will also be there, including Brazil, lndia, Indonesia, South Africa and South Korea.

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