BAKU, Oct 27 (Reuters) - One of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, oil chief Igor Sechin, on Thursday heaped praise on China's leadership, quipping that Taiwan would return to its "native harbour" on time. Sechin, the head of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft (ROSN.MM), also said that Saudi Arabia's position on the global oil market was "reasonable" and based on analysis of oil supply and demand. Russia has moved to forge closer ties with Asia, especially energy-hungry China, to offset Western sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine. Sechin said U.S. attempts to create its own complex microchip industry showed that "Taiwan's return to its native harbour" was "on schedule". Reporting by Nailia Bagirova and Olesya Astakhova; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Guy FaulconbridgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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