For the first time since 2006, Chinese president Xi Jinping and the other six members of the top tier of the ruling Communist Party, the Politburo Standing Committee, have been given pay rises.

Mr Xi’s monthly pay packet will rise from 7,020 yuan (€975) to 11,385 yuan (€1,581), a raise of 61.5 per cent. This puts his annual salary at €18,972.

The ministry of human resources and social security said other civil servants are also getting a pay bump.

The lowest paid will rise to 1,320 yuan (€183) a month from 630 yuan (€87.50), a 109 per cent rise. “The basic salary is only one part of a Chinese civil servant’s monthly salary,” state media reported.

“Allowances are also given according to duties and work positions,” they said, without going into detail.

The salaries were raised after being frozen for years and after government officials had been leaving their jobs because of low pay.

For reference, Taoiseach Enda Kenny earns €185,000, Britain's David Cameron about €186,000 and president Barack Obama earns about €345,000.