Speaking at a NATO anti-terrorist demonstration off the coast of Italy, NATO Secretary General Jaapde Hoop Scheffer said yesterday that the relations between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and China are developing "very well."

Scheffer observed the drill on board the USS Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea close to the city of Taranto in southern Italy.

Xinhua quoted the NATO chief as saying that "China is an important nation, we do not neglect China and China does not neglect NATO."

When asked whether the Chinese navy would be invited to join the military exercise in the future, like Russia and the Ukraine were this year, Scheffer explained that it would not be likely, as Russia and Ukraine are NATO's partnership countries, but China is not.

As for the development of friendly ties, Scheffer cited NATO's invitation to Chinese media to come and cover the demonstration as an example.