GUANGZHOU, China — In their first top-level trade talks since President Obama hosted China’s leader in September, the United States and China said on Monday that they had made progress on sticking points, including preventing the theft of trade secrets and opening the Chinese market more broadly to American multinationals.
Still, the lack of larger breakthroughs on bigger issues — like negotiations for a broad trade deal — contrasted with America’s improving economic ties with the rest of Asia.
The two countries have been eyeing each other cautiously.
Mr. Obama has been trying to strengthen relations in the region, through deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which lowers trade barriers between the United States and several other Asian nations. But the deal excludes China.