Related reading:

PARIS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- France, the eurozone second largest economy, targeted to trim budget gap next year and lower it at 4.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012, according to the budget draft presented to the cabinet on Wednesday.

Already under pressure to be in line with European safe line of budget gap, the French government is working to save billions of euros to narrow the deficit of 95.5 billion euros (130.31 billion U.S. dollars) expected in 2011 down to 81.8 billion euros (110.65 billion dollars) next year.

Gap figures are set to ease by 3 percent in two years and by 1 percent in 2015.

According to 2012 budget draft, French economy was expected to grow by 1.75 percent next year down from an initial estimation of 2.25 percent following sluggish economic activities and fears over a global financial turmoil.

France's total accumulated debt is projected to be higher in 2012 at 87.4 percent of GDP mainly due of France's contribution to bail out debt-ridden countries such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland. 2011 debt rate was projected to reach 85.5 percent.

Already expected to rise by 2.1 percent this year, the country's inflation rate was set at 1.7 percent.

Speaking to the local daily Les Echos, Valerie Pecresse, budget minister considered 2012 budget draft as "the budget of credibility and commitment."

"It is even a historic budget because for the first time since 1945, state spending will decrease by 1 billion euros (1.36 billion s) excluding charges of debt and retirement pensions," she added.

Also on Wednesday, French national statistics bureau Insee's new figure confirmed the stagnation in the second quarter after a sharp growth of 0.9 percent in the first three months. In addition, households' consumption expenditure fell by 0.7 percent compared with the previous quarter, casting shadow on domestic demand.

Despite of the government's ambitious plan, it's never a simple job to dissipate pessimistic mood over economic recovery and meanwhile soothe the necessary pain caused by budget slash. Some 110,000 teachers went on a strike Tuesday across France in a demonstration to protest against cuts of jobs and public spending outlined in the 2012 budget draft.

vivi笔记：

budget gap：预算赤字
budget draft ：预算草案
financial turmoil：金融风暴
retirement pensions：退休金
national statistics bureau：国家统计局
domestic demand：国内需求
budget slash：预算削减
public spending：政府开支，公共费用

口译备考之看英语视频练复述系列>>