When US internet giants mention Australia in passing – let alone actually visit the country or establish operations here – they are usually showered with media coverage.

But when China's most valuable internet company, Alibaba, announced plans to open an office in Australia last week, it barely registered a whimper.

Alibaba, the e-commerce colossus that processed transactions worth $US149 billion in the December quarter alone, said at an event in Hangzhou last week it would open an Australian office "later this year".

And Fairfax Media has learned it has already made one senior hire for that office: James Hudson, the chief executive of the NSW branch of the Australia-China Business Council, will join the business next month. John O'Loghlen, a New Zealand-born entrepreneur, has also joined the company, it said this week.