rner Vo Van Kiet - who is more than 10 years his senior - the Soviet-educated economist`s promotion from deputy prime minister had been on the cards for more than a year. Analysts say Khai, 63, is likely to bring more pragmatism than dogma to the country`s carefully balanced triumvirate of Communist Party secretary general, president and prime minister. Vietnamese observers see him as a serious man of few words. Despite regular public appearances, he has seldom made high-profile speeches on key issues. But since he became deputy prime minister in charge of national economic development in 1991, Khai has been credited with many of the policies which have lifted living standards off the floor and reformed the cumbersome administration. Khai was born in Cu Chi district to the west of what was then known as Saigon in December 1933. He served in a range of positions in the south of the country after the Vietnam War ended 22 years ago, becoming head of the Ho Chi Minh City People`s Committee in 1985. He became a member of the elite Politburo at the seventh party congress in 1991 and in the run-up to last year`s congress he was already considered a front-runner to succeed Kiet. However, his aspirations to the leadership were dogged at that time by damaging gossip and rumour about the business activities of family members, one of whom is a high-profile businessman and head of a prominent Hanoi hotel. Analysts point to a speech he made in July pledging not to engage in corruption as both a personal turning point and evidence that those problems are now behind him. Diplomats say he has a good grasp of economic issues and so will be well-placed to steer Vietnam through the difficulties of its first serious downturn since reforms were launched. But they say he will need to demonstrate that he can match the stamina and energy of his predecessor, who is credited with maintaining the drive behind reform over the past five years. In a speech last month, Khai talked of a "market mechanism managed by the state according to the socialist orientation", but also peppered his remarks with language which could have come straight from a World Bank report.