It matters not that friends to be important in life. What is important that whether you maintain friendship honestly or not. Because, maintaining friendship needs a honest approach.
It remains a deep desire that friend needs to respond to you as the way you desire from him. If it happens ,you consider friendship is important to you. If reverse takes place, a doubt rises in your mind whether friendship is important in life.
This is a great point. Friendships are a bit similar like relationships, If you don't water the plant, it will die :)