President Xi Jinping urged the European Union on Friday to join hands with China in resisting "unilateral bullying", in reference to tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

As he met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday, Xi stressed the need for cooperation between the bloc and Beijing in weathering Trump's continual escalations in the trade war.

"China and Europe should fulfil their international responsibilities... and jointly resist unilateral bullying practices," Xi said.

This, he stressed, would not only "safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests, but also... safeguard international fairness and justice."

The president added there is no winner in a tariff war, and going against the world will only result in self-isolation.

He said for more than 70 years, China has achieved development through self-reliance and does not fear unreasonable suppression.

Xi added that no matter how the external world changes, China will remain confident and focused on running its own affairs well.

Sanchez, in turn, said following the meeting in Beijing that tensions over trade should not impede cooperation between China and the EU.

"Both Spain and Europe have a significant trade deficit with China that we must work to rectify," he admitted.

But Sanchez also said "we must not let trade tensions stand in the way of the potential growth of the relationship between China and Spain and between China and the EU".

Spain buys about 45 billion euros of goods every year from China, its fourth-largest trading partner, but sells around 7.4 billion euros' worth.

Sanchez's trip comes as the EU rethinks its global trading relationships in the face of turmoil caused by the US import duties announced last week that have sent world markets into a tailspin.

The Spanish leader is on his third visit to China in just over two years. (AFP/Xinhua)