The 20th century witnessed tremendous changes in the geopolitical and economic system of the world. New position of Asia with such economic pillars since the 60s and the 70s as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore, strengthened by China, India and the ASEAN economies makes them important players in the international arena. There is no problem in the modern world that could be discussed without Asia. There are various points of view on the emerging, or rather reemerging Asia, depending on the location one looks at it from. The author presents European, American, Russian, Polish and Asian perspective towards Asia and its changing economic position. The way of perceiving Asia by them is different and connected with expectations and interests of each of those agents. The author is also answering a question about sources of economic dynamism of the Asian continent but one should not forget that there are situated nine of the poorest 50 economies there.