According to petwithsupplies, Kazakhstan is a large Central Asian country that is home to over 18 million people. The largest cities in Kazakhstan are Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent. These cities are the most populous and important economic, political, and cultural centers of the country. Almaty is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the largest city in the country with a population of 1.8 million people. It is located in the south-east of Kazakhstan near the border with Kyrgyzstan, and it serves as an important economic hub for Kazakhstan due to its strategic location between two major trade routes: one linking China to Europe through Russia, and another linking Central Asia to South Asia through Iran. Almaty is also home to a number of universities as well as several international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Astana is Kazakhstan’s current capital city with a population of 1.2 million people. It was built on top of an existing city called Akmola in 1998 under President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s rule and has since become an important political center for Kazakhstan. Astana houses all branches of government including the Supreme Court, Parliament, Presidential Palace, National Bank, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc., making it an important administrative center for the entire country. Additionally, it has been designated by UNESCO as a City of Peace since 2018 due to its efforts towards promoting peace and international cooperation between states. Shymkent is located in south-central Kazakhstan near Kyrgyzstan’s border with a population of over 800 thousand people. It serves as an important industrial center for Kazakhstan due to its close proximity to oil fields located in nearby countries such as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan which makes it an ideal place for oil refineries and other related industries. Additionally, Shymkent has become increasingly popular among tourists due to its numerous historical monuments such as ancient tombs dating back thousands of years ago which attract visitors from all over the world every year. Kazakhstan has a long and complex geopolitical history. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kazakhstan declared its independence and began to shape its own foreign policy. In 2008, Kazakhstan was in a unique position geopolitically as it was seen as a bridge between the East and West. This was due to its location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, as well as its membership in both the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Kazakhstan had strong ties with both Russia and China, two powerful global players. In 2008, Russia was still considered one of Kazakhstan’s closest allies due to their shared history and culture. Russia offered military support to Kazakhstan during times of crisis, such as when protests broke out in Zhanaozen in 2011. Additionally, Russian energy companies had invested heavily into Kazakhstan’s oil industry which helped fuel the country’s economic growth. Kazakhstan’s relationship with China was also strong at this time due to their shared border and economic ties. China had invested heavily into infrastructure projects within Kazakhstan such as roads, railways, pipelines, etc., which helped spur economic growth within the country. Additionally, China had provided military support to Kazakhstan during times of crisis such as when protests broke out in Zhanaozen in 2011. In 2008, Kazakhstan also had strong ties with other Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan through organizations like the Central Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO). This organization allowed for increased cooperation between these countries on political issues such as security and trade agreements. Additionally, it provided a platform for dialogue between these countries on regional issues such as water management or border disputes. Finally, while many countries viewed Kazakhstan with suspicion due to its authoritarian government led by President Nursultan Nazarbayev since 1989, Western countries were more supportive towards them due to their commitment to reform democracy within their borders. In 2008, there were several initiatives led by western governments that aimed at strengthening civil society organizations within Kazakhstan which included providing financial support for NGO’s working on human rights issues or providing training for journalists on reporting practices that adhere to international standards of press freedom. Check eningbo for Kazakhstan in 2012.