The leaders insisted to reporters afterward that the United States and China were in agreement on a range of issues, and that the countries had affirmed commitments to work together to resolve their conflicts, but they spoke only in general terms, raising doubts about whether the two countries could easily bridge the gaps.

Later, in the afternoon, President Obama toured the Forbidden City before giving a speech to employees at the American Embassy.

Some analysts said the news conference at noon was notable more for spelling out the points on which the two nations disagreed than for presenting any substantial agreements reached.

Also noteworthy was the range of issues on which the United States was asking China’s help, something that might have been unthinkable before the United States became embroiled in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and before its economy was hobbled by the global financial crisis that began on its shores. China, meanwhile, has so far weathered the financial crisis in relatively good form.