By Arvind Padmanabhan

Toronto, June 27 (IANS) When French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the Taj Mahal in 2008, he was overawed by the monument of love, but could not show it to his then friend and now First Lady Carla Bruni.

This cherished moment is likely to be realised later this year, as Sarkozy has accepted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's invitation to visit India along with his model-singer wife.

Taj Mahal is a 17th century mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is located in Agra, a city in India's Uttar Pradesh state and is ranked among the seven wonders of the world.

"An invitation has already been extended to President Sarkozy and Madame Carla Bruni," Vishnu Prakash, official spokesperson for the external affairs ministry, told reporters here. The two leaders held their talks ahead of the G20 summit under way here.

"The prime minister said the president has said he looked forward to that visit later this year."

President Sarkozy is also reported to have remarked that France considered India among its most important partners and one that plays a critical role in world affairs.

"This bigger role must be played not just in G20 but all institutions of global governance."