After talks in China aimed at ensuring stable relations ahead of the American elections, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan praised the qualifications of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to manage one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world.

Sullivan highlighted the Vice President's experience in dealing with senior leaders in China and her role in shaping policy in the Asia-Pacific region during a press conference in Beijing on Thursday, where he concluded a three-day visit to the Asian nation, according to U.S. news agency Bloomberg.

He said, "Vice President Harris has been a key member of Biden's foreign policy team," specifically citing her role in U.S.-China relations.

He added, "She has had the opportunity to have discussions with President Xi Jinping and with Prime Minister Li Qiang, so she is well known to both of China's top leaders."

The visit appeared aimed at addressing concerns about the Democratic candidate's lack of foreign policy experience, as voters expect her to clarify her agenda before the election in November, according to Bloomberg.

Protective barriers for relations
Unlike President Biden, who has noted "90 hours" of talks with Xi Jinping over their long political careers, Harris has only met the Chinese leader on the sidelines of a summit in Thailand and has not visited Beijing as Vice President due to COVID-19 restrictions that limited travel for years.

Sullivan's trip aimed to establish protective barriers for relations, as Beijing braces for a turbulent period in American politics, with concerns about who the next president will be.

Dai Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said the election season could raise doubts on both sides, making Sullivan's trip important for ensuring stability.

He added, "The U.S. might be concerned that China could interfere in the elections, while the Chinese side might fear that some in the U.S. will use the China card for local political gains."

During nearly 14 hours of talks in Beijing, which included his first one-on-one meeting with the Chinese president, Sullivan stated that he discussed Harris's profile, although he declined to elaborate on the details of questions that Chinese officials may have raised regarding the elections.

He said, "I was able to share my experience and perspective in closely working with the Vice President and the role she has played over the past four years."

Sullivan noted that as expected, Harris will continue to implement Biden's policy toward China, stating that she values "high-level open lines of communication."