BILLIONAIRE and China’s “godfather of English training” Yu Minhong apologized Sunday for saying “Chinese women are responsible for China’s decline.”

Yu, CEO of New Oriental Education and Technology Group, made the remarks Sunday during an annual educational forum, named “Power of Learning,” in Shanghai.

“If the standard for Chinese women to choose a man is his ability to make money, and that they don’t care about conscience, then all Chinese men will be conscienceless but good at money making … The decline of Chinese women has led to the country’s decline,” Yu, also a graduate of the prestigious Peking University, said at Sunday’s forum.

Yu’s speech quickly sparked outrage.

A statement which comes from a person like Yu shows that gender equality education is missing in China’s education system, Luo Ruixue, a member of the women’s rights group Women Awakening Network, told the Global Times on Monday.

Female Chinese celebrity Zhang Yuqi, who starred in the 2016 box office smash The Mermaid, criticized Yu’s speech on Sina Weibo, writing, “[I’m sorry that] Peking University and New Oriental couldn’t let you understand what gender equality means, not even figuring out what equality is [thumb down].”

Yu apologized on Weibo late Sunday, saying that he didn’t express his opinion clearly and caused misunderstanding.

“What I really meant was: women’s level can represent that of a country. Well-educated women could cultivate well-mannered children. Women’s values could also influence those of men,” Yu wrote. (Global Times)