Europe needs China as a “strategic partner” in helping build the bloc’s electric vehicle industry, a top Spanish official said, echoing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s position against EU plans to slap tariffs on Chinese cars.

The meeting came as divisions grow in Europe over the proposed tariffs, after Spain last week urged the EU to "reconsider" plans for duties of up to 36 percent on Chinese electric cars, joining Germany in opposition.

The European Commission and China agreed to intensify efforts to avert EU import tariffs on China-built electric vehicles and could re-examine a minimum-price deal previously rejected by the EU, the Commission said on Thursday.

Brussels and Beijing have agreed to take a new look at price undertakings, which could avoid extra tariffs on China-made electric vehicles.

Makiyama, Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, speaks to CGTN Europe about the talks between Minister of Commerce of China Wang Wentao and Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis.