According to petwithsupplies, Panama City is the capital and largest city in Panama. Located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, it is home to over 1.5 million people and is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. The city was founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias Dávila and has been an important port for centuries. It is known for its colonial architecture, such as Las Bóvedas (the Vaults) which was used as a military prison during colonial times and now houses a museum, as well as its modern skyline which features several high-rise buildings. The second largest city in Panama is Colón, located at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. This port city has a population of over 200,000 people and is one of the most important ports in Central America due to its strategic location on both sides of the canal. It has long been an international business hub with several large companies based here such as Banco Nacional de Panamá (BNP), Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPECA) and AES Corporation. Colón also features several historical landmarks such as Plaza Herrera which was built in 1873 to honor General Tomás Herrera who fought for Panama’s independence from Spain. The third largest city in Panama is David, located near Costa Rica’s border with Panama. With a population of over 140,000 people it serves as an important commercial center for western Panama due to its proximity to Costa Rica’s Pacific ports. It is also home to several universities such as Universidad Latina de Panamá and Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí which offer degrees in various fields including medicine and engineering. Finally, there are several smaller cities located throughout Panama that are worth mentioning including Santiago de Veraguas which has a population of over 50,000 people; Chitré with around 40,000 inhabitants; La Chorrera with 34 000 inhabitants; Arraiján with 33 000 inhabitants; Pacora with 23 000 inhabitants; Penonomé with 22 000 inhabitants; Aguadulce with 18 000 inhabitants; Las Tablas with 17 000 inhabitants; San Miguelito with 15 000 inhabitants; Las Cumbres with 14 000 inhabitants; Changuinola with 13 000 inhabitants; Potrerillos Arriba 12 500 inhabitants; Puerto Armuelles 12 500 inhabitants; Chepo 11 500 inhabitants; and Santa Fe with 11 000 inhabitants. In 2008, Panama had a population of approximately 3.3 million people and was governed by President Martin Torrijos. The country’s economy was largely dependent on the Panama Canal, which provided a major source of revenue for the government through the fees charged to ships that used the canal. Additionally, Panama had become an important hub for international trade due to its strategic location at the crossroads between North and South America. The political landscape in Panama in 2008 was a mix of both democratic and authoritarian elements. On one hand, free and fair elections were held in May 2009 that resulted in President Torrijos being re-elected with nearly 52 percent of the vote. On the other hand, Torrijos’s administration had been criticized for its lack of transparency and its use of authoritarian tactics such as censorship and intimidation against political opponents. Internationally, Panama had established diplomatic relations with several countries including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Cuba and Venezuela. These relations were largely focused on economic development initiatives such as increasing trade between countries or providing assistance to developing nations in Latin America. Additionally, Panama had become increasingly involved in regional security initiatives such as fighting organized crime or drug trafficking operations along its borders with Colombia or Costa Rica. In terms of foreign policy, Panama remained committed to strengthening regional ties through organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS) or by actively participating in multilateral forums such as the Central American Integration System (SICA). Additionally, it sought closer ties with China through agreements such as a free trade agreement signed in 2007 that allowed Chinese companies to invest in Panamanian infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. Overall, 2008 marked a pivotal moment for Panama where it sought to strengthen its international relations while also struggling to address domestic issues related to poverty and inequality through reforms like tax reform or investment incentives aimed at increasing economic activity throughout the country. Check payhelpcenter for Panama in 2008.