(Adds Hu quote, criticism over human rights, Sudan)

By Tiemoko Diallo

BAMAKO, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Thursday he wanted to deepen Beijing's trade and investment links in Africa despite the global economic slowdown.

Hu made the comment on his arrival in Mali on the first leg of a four-nation African tour.

China's trade with Africa has shot up 10-fold since 2000, soaring 45 percent to nearly $107 billion last year alone.

China's investments in and imports from Africa are dominated by minerals and oil -- Angola is China's single biggest crude supplier -- yet Hu is visiting four countries which are not among Beijing's big sources of oil or minerals.

Crowds of people and traditional drummers greeted Hu when he touched down in Mali. Next he will travel to neighbouring Senegal, Tanzania and the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

"These are not classically resource-rich countries so this is a message to Africa that (China) will engage with all sorts of countries," said Patrick Smith, the editor of Africa Confidential.

"The other message is that, amid a crisis, when many Western economies are talking about cutting aid budgets, China is travelling the world talking about trade and investment."