Uganda, April 4 -- China has launched a new push to repair relations with the EU in recent weeks, deploying its special envoy on Eurasian affairs on a "shuttle diplomacy" tour through several European countries while calling on Brussels to prioritize the common interests rather than differences between the two sides.

At a press conference during China's annual parliamentary meeting last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pushed back against the European Union's characterization of China as "a partner, competitor and systemic rival" while reiterating that their common interests "outweigh" differences.

"China and Europe do not have clashing fundamental interests between them, or geopolitical and strategic conflicts," he said in front ...