If Tom Glocer is losing any sleep over a government edict that could hamstring his company’s China business, he certainly gave no hint of it as he opened the global news and data provider's new $10m development centre in Beijing on Monday.

Instead, the chief executive of Reuters followed a celebratory performance by Shaolin Temple kung fu contortionists with a cheerful speech to government dignitaries that was laced with tributes to China’s rich history and a quote from Confucius.