That's more a cultural thing than a linguistic one, I see. It's funny to think that expressions of feelings and sentiments have special rules in every country, overall but not only limited to bodily expressions of them (hugs, kisses and else).
This, beyond the linguistic usage of the words, could turn into an interesting thread about that argument, in my opinion. Although this is an English language forum, it gathers people from many different cultures and that's what brought me to subscribe at first instance.
Perhaps, I will start a new thread about that in the proper section.

Leaving the OT behind...
"Ich habe dich lieb" is in German the correct expression of affection for a friend, then?
"Ich liebe dich", from what I understood, is reserved to the partner in love instead. Isn't it?