PHNOM PENH: A ceremony was held at the Ministry of Defence today in celebration of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s 1977 mission to Vietnam, where he was able to rally support that would liberate Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge.

With tears in his eyes, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that his sacrifices have not only been for himself, but for the sake of all Cambodians. He said that his family was also torn apart as a result of the war, which made him determined to save other Cambodians from the same fate. He noted that his own suffering and subsequent success gave him empathy and a duty to the poor. "And through our own experience of suffering, we have to serve poor and help them with their problems. I think those who reap the rewards are lucky, but with that luck we also have a duty to help them reap the rewards of our sacrifices," he said.

On this day 46 years ago, according to the story, 25-year-old Hun Sen left his wife and unborn child to embark on a dangerous mission , along with four loyal comrades, to gather support in Vietnam for Cambodia’s liberation from the Khmer Rouge.

At today’s ceremony, the Prime Minster wondered what might have happened had he not dedicated his life to freeing the nation all those years ago. He emphasized that his sacrifice was not only to his benefit, but to the benefit of all Cambodians. He asked his listeners to accept this fact.

"I do not think my sacrifice is just for my benefit," he said. "But it is in everyone’s interest. I am not jealous of anyone. I ask nothing of you, except to accept this simple truth.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen has held his position for over 38 years, having been appointed by parliament following the collapse of the Khmer Rouge in 1979. His record-breaking tenure has seen Cambodia transform from an impoverished country to one that aims to reach high-middle income status within the next four years. Today’s ceremony concluded that none of this would be possible without the Prime Minister’s decision made over 40 years ago.