DAKAR, Senegal — In veiled swipes at China’s investments in Africa on Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urged African leaders to embrace democracy and partnerships with responsible foreign powers as a means to improving their living standards and addressing the root causes of extremism on the continent.

Clinton, speaking to university students, lawmakers, and diplomats in Senegal’s capital, challenged Africa’s elite to fully respect human rights, and she warned of the consequences of rampant abuses, corruption, and intolerance that breed contempt and contribute to instability.

‘‘There are still too many places in the region and across the continent where democracy is threatened, where human rights are abused, and the rule of law is undermined,’’ Clinton said. ‘‘Too many Africans still live under autocratic rulers who care more about preserving their grip on power than promoting the welfare of their citizens. Violent extremism, transnational crime, and rampant corruption all threaten democracy.’’

She said America would stand by African reformers, and she indirectly took on China. Beijing has been criticized for ignoring human rights concerns, local laws, and environmental regulations as it boosts investment in Africa in search of energy and resources to fuel its exploding economy.

By contrast, she said the United States is committed to ‘‘a model of sustainable partnership that adds value, rather than extracts it’’ from Africa. ‘‘The days of having outsiders come and extract the wealth of Africa for themselves leaving nothing or very little behind should be over in the 21st century,’’ she said.

Without mentioning China by name, she maintained that unlike other countries, ‘‘America will stand up for democracy and universal human rights even when it might be easier or more profitable to look the other way, to keep the resources flowing.’’

‘‘Not every partner makes that choice, but we do and we will,’’ she said, calling support for democracy and human rights the ‘‘heart of the American model of partnership.’’

Her comments follow a China-Africa summit last month at which Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged $20 billion in credit to African governments during the next three years to support infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, and small business growth.