If they are "the same in this particular sense" then use that language instead. In no other context do people use the phrase "these are the same" meaning "these have something in common." I wouldn't defend the phrase "Galas and Fijis are the same" because of their similarities any more or less than if I were to compare apples and oranges. I'd say they're both apples or they're both fruit or any number of specific descriptors that they actually share.
It seems to me that if people are using this language as you suggest then they should communicate more clearly, or, more likely, this isn't what they mean.
I get some dead pixels when I open this