1) Asia has a LOT of people which meant more money for them if they could open up trading ports and such.
2) Asia had things like gunpowder, silk, spices, basically what was considered rare goods at the time.
(And a secret 3d reason, Asia was pretty far ahead in most sciences and mathematical studies and if you could sneak a trader in there to get some of that knowledge then all the better)
Answer:
Asia was a large market, and at the time the workshop of the world. China in fact did not need any manufacture good from the West, and supplied tea, and porcelain. Therefore, the trade with Asia was vital to the West.
Explanation:
As noted before, Asia was a large market, with strategical trading posts, and luxury products such as tea and porcelain. The quality of the Asian manufacturing was the reason for the ideal place for trade, which progressively was balanced in favor of the West.
