Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to press China on human rights as Canada moves ahead with plans to develop stronger trade links with Beijing.

In his most direct speech yet during his four-day trip to China, Harper told a business dinner in Guangzhou Friday that Canada wants to sell its natural resources to China. But he said Canadians expect his government to uphold "fundamental freedoms" in their business dealings.

"Canadians believe, and have always believed, that the kind of mutually beneficial economic relationship we seek is also compatible with a good and frank dialogue on fundamental principles," Harper said in the keynote speech at the dinner.

"And they demand that their government -- and their businesses -- uphold these national characteristics in all our dealings.

"Therefore, in relations between China and Canada, you should expect us to continue to raise issues of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and to be a vocal advocate for these just as we will be an effective partner in our growing and mutually beneficial economic relationship."

Harper said that while he couldn't claim to understand the challenges China is dealing with in the face of its exploding economy, he said Canada's history "has taught us that economic, social and political development are, over time, inseparable."

He also made a subtle dig at environmentalists who helped block TransCanada's planned Keystone XL pipeline, which would have carried Canada's oil to refineries in the United States.

"We uphold our responsibility to put the interests of Canadians ahead of foreign money and influence that seek to obstruct development in Canada in favour of energy imported from other, less stable parts of the world," he told the dinner.

The Conservatives have suggested that some environmentalists opposed to the oilsands are backed by international money.

Simply put, China needs energy and Canada has natural resources to sell, the prime minister said.

"We are an emerging energy superpower," Harper said. "We want to sell our energy to people who want to buy our energy. It's that simple."

It was a message the Chinese were eager to hear.

Harper did not bring up any specific human rights issues that Canada wants addressed during his speech.

While Harper has told reporters that he's raised human rights issues in his talks with Chinese leaders behind closed doors, the speech Friday night in Guangzhou marked his first explicit public remarks on the subject.

Harper also urged China to be a "responsible" global citizen on security issues. Without mentioning Syria directly nor China's decision this week to block United Nations action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Harper said he would encourage Canada's trading partners to be good global citizens.

"Canadians also demand that their government be a responsible global citizen in dealing with the peace and security challenges that confront the world and, wherever we can urge other governments, including global actors like China, to do the same," Harper said.

Harper was in Guangzhou to highlight the education connection between the city and Canada. He visited a local school that uses Canadian curriculum and that sends Chinese students to Canada each year.

With more than 60,000 students from all over China already studying in Canada, education is a growing tie between Canada and China.

In a joint statement released by Harper and Chinese leadership Thursday, the two countries agreed to elevate education to a strategic priority.

With files from The Canadian Press