Within the domestic and foreign policy of Russia the Arctic is one of the most important regions, the development of this region ranks a significant place in the plans and strategies of Russian government. The brilliant potential of the region is of particular interest to a number of countries, including the countries of Southeast Asia. It is reasonable that concerned states choose Russia as their partner in the polar region since Russia possesses the largest territories in the Arctic and resolutely develops them. For the Russian Federation such attention to the Arctic is beneficial because of the prospects of technological and economic cooperation. However, are there any possibilities for the states, far from the polar territories, to become crucial partners for the Russian North? In the paper, the authors analyzed this issue and have made the conclusion that despite the mutual interest of both parties in the development of cooperation in the Arctic, the current circumstances and conditions result in the fact that the partnership consists only of the separate joint ventures, not systematic joint work.