I agree that it depends on the person saying it. on the surface I could guess the meaning to be staying on friendly terms, not having to avoid each other and cut each other off, but perhaps he didn't say what he really meant. maybe to spare you from the hurt of hearing that he wants nothing to do with you or maybe he's just too much of a coward to actually say what he means. Most likely the latter. He didn't want to have to face your reaction to hearing him say that so he just basically, lied.