ATHENS, Greece (AP) — France's finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, has travelled to Athens in a bid to help end a months-long delay in a rescue funding agreement between Greece and bailout lenders.

Le Maire held talks with Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Monday, ahead of a meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday of finance ministers from countries using the euro currency.

Greece urgently needs to get its next installment of bailout loans as it faces a July spike in debt repayments worth some 7 billion euros ($7.8 billion). Greece is also seeking a concrete pledge from creditors on debt relief, an issue complicated by disagreement among lenders over the country's growth potential and debt sustainability.

In Athens, Le Maire will also meet Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras.