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Mr Putin and Prince Albert II were met at the airport in Kyzyl by Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu and head of the Republic of Tuva’s government Sholban Kara-ool.

After a brief welcome ceremony the President and Prince Albert II boarded a helicopter for Lake Tere-Khol and then travelled by motor boat to the island where the Por-Bazhyn Fortress is located.

The distinguished visitors were met at the entrance to the excavation site by the archaeological expedition’s scientific director, Tigran Mkrtychev. According to Mr Mkrtychev, the fortress was built around 757 AD and took a year to complete. It is typical of Chinese mixed earth and stone fortified constructions of that time.

The visit lasted around an hour, during which Mr Putin and Prince Albert II were shown one of the most valuable finds – colour drawings on the fortress’ plaster.

The team carrying out the excavations includes students and teachers from universities in Moscow, St Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk and Kyzyl and members of the Nashi youth movement. Mr Putin and Prince Albert II’s visit to the site was an unexpected surprise.

The President and Prince Albert II invited the students and teachers to share dinner that evening.