U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday called the Panama Canal "a VITAL National Asset for the United States," threatening to retake the waterway.

Panama's president, Jose Raul Mulino, hit back on Sunday, saying the canal will "continue to be in Panamanian hands."

With a total length of over 80 kilometers, the Panama Canal connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, serving as a vital waterway for global trade. Canal shipping is one of the main pillars of Panama's economy.

The canal is both an economic lifeline and a reminder of the nation's struggle to reclaim its independence and chart its own future.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service■