PHNOM PENH: Today is the 47th wedding anniversary of Prime Minister Hun Sen and First Lady Bun Rany Hun Sen. Their love has lasted for more than half a century, despite having gone through many hardships, struggles and challenges.

Prime Minister Hun Sen made a post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday night, 4 January, writing that he and his wife did not expect to survive until now because of the hardships they experienced during the Khmer Rouge. Both did not think they would have children or as many grandchildren as they do today.

Sharing a lesson that he learnt from his marriage to his wife, the Prime Minister wrote, "Marriage can have music or no music, but there is no difference, the main thing is [whether you have] love, loyalty, understanding or not? You either break up or stay together, that is the point.”

The Prime Minister and First Lady were married on 5 January 1976 during the time of the Khmer Rouge, without any celebrations, but their love has still lasted to this day.

The Prime Minister often expresses his love for his wife on his own Facebook page and even wrote a book about their history together called, ‘The Destiny That Cannot be Broken’, to remember the struggles they have gone through together and to commemorate his dedication to their love.

He also often shows that he respects his wife and humorously says that he is “afraid” of her. The Prime Minister has said that he believes only wives can know and understand their husbands best, can take care of their husbands and their families best, so all husbands must respect and love their wives.

The long-lasting love between the Prime Minister and First Lady serves as an example to others, showing people that they must love, care and protect each other.

Prime Minister Hun Sen is also a husband who protects his wife’s honor. When an opposition politician made an insult to the First Lady by saying that she was the “wife of a Vietnamese leader,” the Prime Minister found this unacceptable and the opposition politician was forced to flee the country.

On 22 February 2022, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Boeung Choeung Ek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Phnom Penh, the Prime Minister stated that he still remembers the pain of this insulting incident and said that even in his next life he would fight to protect his wife's honor.

"You insulted my wife by saying she is the wife of a Vietnamese leader, and that my child is the child of a Vietnamese leader, if I do not react [to such an insult], I am not human!" said the Prime Minister. "So I told the leaders of a number of countries that I do not accept this. You can say whatever you want, but this subject (insulting his family), if you do not fix it, then even in the next life, I will fight [this insult], I cannot accept such an insult. My wife and children were suffering a lot [during the war]. Before coming back to see me, I did not know if my wife and children were dead or alive."