Arystanbek Akylbay is a Ph.D. Candidate in Oriental Studies (Asian Studies) at Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi. He completed his master degree in China Studies at Shanghai International Studies University in 2018; his master project focused on the impact of the USA-Russia-China triangle on the development of the Central Asian states after the collapse of the Soviet Union. After completing master's degree, he worked in the civil services in Kazakhstan. Arystanbek worked as an expert in the department of international cooperation at the Ministry of Social Development, then as a chief expert in the coordination of youth policy of the Committee on Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Completed a retraining course for civil servants at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan. Since September 2019 he has been a lecturer at the Department of Chinese Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies. Also worked as deputy dean for educational work of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. From 2021 to the present time he has been Deputy Director for Academic Affairs and International Cooperation of Al-Farabi Business school at Kazakh National University. As part of dissertation work, he is researching the experience of the formation of Singapore's statehood, especially the introduction of new reforms during its formation. He is studying the principle of meritocracy in the development of the state and the modernization of public administration.