The French government on Wednesday said it would narrow the public deficit by 0.1 percentage point this year on better-than-expected 2011 results.

According to the government stability program posted on the Elysee website, the eurozone's second largest economy revised down 2012 public deficit to 4.4 percent from a previous forecast of 4.5 percent "despite a less favorable growth assumption."

For 2013, the country kept its deficit target of 3 percent before reaching balanced results in 2016.

With the aim, the government wants to save 115 billion euros (150.69 billion U.S. dollars) over the coming four years mainly by reducing public spending and cutting 30,000 public jobs.

As for economic growth, the government was said to expand the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.7 percent in 2012 and to increase the figure to 1.75 percent in 2013.

Cornered by high joblessness, French officials target to create 140,000 new jobs in 2013 to absorb the growing slice of job seekers in the country with a population of some 65 million.

"The government reaffirms its commitment to continue the effort to reduce the deficit and bring the public accounts to balance in 2016. Balanced public account is a question of sovereignty and economy support," the government said in the statement.