By GINGER THOMPSON and MARC LACEY | The New York Times

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — President Barack Obama began a summit meeting here Sunday night with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts that touched on a broad range of issues including climate change, the economic crisis, the swine flu pandemic and the battle against illegal drugs.

The annual meeting was started four years ago as a way for the neighboring countries to build on ties established by the North American Free Trade Agreement. As much as they bring the countries together, the meetings have also served to highlight deep differences, particularly on trade and immigration.

Expectations were low that those differences would be resolved in the whirlwind of meetings on Sunday and Monday.

“I think the summit is going to be a step in the continuing dialogue from which agreements will undoubtedly come,” Gen. James L. Jones, Mr. Obama’s national security adviser, said before the meetings began. “I think we’ll see more of these dialogues. And as I said, from that, I think good things will come.”

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