Almost 1,000 students and faculty with hopes of witnessing history lotteried for tickets to an address next week by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

Wen, the third highest ranking Chinese official, will speak at Harvard next Wednesday as part of his first trip to the United States since he was appointed in March.

Wen’s address, to be delivered at Harvard Business School’s Burden Hall, will come as part of a packed schedule that includes a luncheon with top Massachusetts officials, a visit to New York City and a meeting with President Bush.

The 921 Harvard affiliates, who logged on to the Asia Center website between noon Tuesday and midnight Wednesday, vied for approximately 500 tickets.

Wen is expected to speak on current Chinese policies, including relations with the United States, but his address could also touch on several sensitive topics.

“I would not be surprised if Wen’s speech also included a discussion on Tibet and Taiwan,” said Wilt Idema, director of the Fairbank Center for East Asian Research.

In addition to issues of global politics, Wen’s visit to the University will likely center on themes of education, including opportunities for academic cooperation between Chinese universities and Harvard, Idema said.

This would build on Harvard-China ties forged in recent years.

Wen’s visit, arranged by the Office of the President in conjunction with the Asia Center and the Fairbank Center, comes six years after the last major Chinese official spoke at Harvard.

In November 1997, 1,000 people requested tickets to attend a speech by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Nearly 4,000 supporters and protesters rallied outside the event, including members of the Tibetan Association of Boston and The Coalition for Freedom and Human Rights in Asia who protested China’s policies and criticized its president.

In 1998 then-University President Neil L. Rudenstine visited China, meeting with Jiang and officials at Peking University to talk about academic exchange between Harvard and Chinese universities.

Summers followed up that trip with a Summer 2002 visit to Chinese universities, where he discussed advancement in education.

It was unclear yesterday if Wen’s speech would draw protesters.

But at least one group of Harvard affiliates plans to use the opportunity to put pressure on the Chinese government.